Alameda County requires weeds and grass to be kept below 12 inches in urbanized areas, with stricter 4-inch limits in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones under PRC 4291 defensible space rules.
Alameda County General Ordinance Code addresses overgrown vegetation as a public nuisance when weeds, grass, or vegetation exceed 12 inches in most unincorporated urbanized areas and create a fire, health, or safety hazard. In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones covering Castro Valley hills, Fairview, Sunol-Palomares, and the Oakland Hills wildland interface, PRC Section 4291 defensible space requires annual grass to be cut to 4 inches or less within 30 to 100 feet of structures during fire season. The Alameda County Fire Department and the Weed Abatement Program issue annual notices in spring, typically April or May, with inspection deadlines in late May or June. Property owners who fail to comply face abatement by county contractors, with costs plus administrative fees assessed to the property tax bill as a lien. The program is authorized under Government Code sections 39560-39588.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle grass height limits.
See how Castro Valley's grass height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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