Tracy, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Tracy's fire-menace brush clearance rule sits in TMC § 4.12.270, Article 6 of Chapter 4.12. It targets farm crops specifically, not ordinary weeds: any crop that will grow tall or dry enough to become a fire menace is declared a public nuisance if it sits within ten feet of any street or traveled public right-of-way, or within ten feet of adjacent property being used for something other than agriculture. The definition of a fire-menace growth borrows from § 4.12.250's definition of 'weeds,' which covers wild grasses and weeds that attain large growth and become a fire menace when dry, such as foxtails, tumbleweeds and gourd vines, alongside any other noxious or dangerous growth.

Enforcement follows the same abatement track as the rest of Article 6: the Fire Chief mails the property owner certified notice under § 4.12.280, describing the parcel by assessor map and tax account number and setting a City Council hearing date at least five days ahead, and the owner has twenty days from mailing to clear the fire-menace crop. If objections are raised, the Council hears and disposes of them at a noticed hearing under § 4.12.290 before ordering abatement. An owner who has not cleared the crop within the twenty-day window faces City-performed abatement and a bill for the cost under § 4.12.300, with the Finance Department invoicing the owner after Council confirms the cost report under §§ 4.12.320-4.12.330 and giving one calendar month to pay before the balance is certified to the County as an unpaid assessment under § 4.12.340.

Representatives of the City may enter the property during daylight hours to inspect for or abate the fire-menace nuisance under § 4.12.310, and interfering with that entry is separately unlawful.