Sunnyvale requires property owners to maintain defensible space and remove dead vegetation as a fire hazard. The city conducts annual weed abatement inspections under Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 9.48.
Although Sunnyvale sits on the valley floor and has no Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone designation, the city still enforces weed and rubbish abatement under Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 9.48. Property owners must cut weeds and remove dead brush, dry grass over six inches tall, and combustible debris that create fire hazards. The city sends annual abatement notices in spring requiring compliance typically by late May or early June. If the owner fails to comply, the city hires contractors to abate and bills the property through a tax lien. Vacant lots, parcel edges, and alleyways are common inspection targets. Landscaped residential yards with maintained lawns generally comply without special action.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Sunnyvale, CA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
See how other cities in Santa Clara County handle brush clearance.
See how Sunnyvale's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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