Upland, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

The City of Upland administers a Weed Abatement Program to reduce fire hazards, operating annually from January through July, although the city notes that fire prevention is a year-round obligation; inspections occur throughout the year via the Weed Abatement Coordinator or the Code Enforcement Division. Upland's published standards require that weeds and grasses 'be kept below 4 inches in height' and that property owners remove 'dead or dying vegetation, including material beneath shrubs and groundcover' and 'dead tree material, including palm fronds.' For defensible space, the city says maintenance within 30 feet of structures is critical: grass and ground cover trimmed below 4 inches, trees pruned up from ground level, spacing between shrubs of at least 3 times the tallest shrub's height, removal of debris and non-weatherproof storage, and clear side yards for evacuation routes. The city also cites Upland Municipal Code 12.156.050, requiring owners to keep adjoining alleys 'free and clean of debris, vegetation or any other accumulation.' Properties in north Upland near the San Gabriel foothills fall within a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, where California Public Resources Code 4291 and Government Code 51182 require up to 100 feet of defensible space around structures (not beyond the property line). Failure to abate after notice leads to administrative fees and city-performed abatement billed to the owner.