Plumas County, CA Landscaping Rules: Grass Height Limits (2026)

Unincorporated Plumas County is entirely within a State Responsibility Area, so the controlling grass rule is wildfire-driven rather than an aesthetic lawn ordinance. Under California Public Resources Code Section 4291, a person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains a building or structure in, upon, or adjoining grass-covered, brush-covered, or forest-covered land must maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure (not beyond the property line). PRC 4291 defines fuel to include grasses and weeds, and CAL FIRE guidance for the surrounding zones calls for cutting or mowing annual grass down to a maximum height of four inches. There is no separately published Plumas County code section setting a universal grass height for ordinary yards. Instead, dry-grass and weed hazards are handled through defensible space inspections (CAL FIRE and local fire protection districts such as Quincy Fire Protection District conduct AB 38/PRC 4291 inspections) and, in some communities, weed-and-debris abatement by community services districts. In 2018, for example, the Indian Valley Community Services District cited Greenville-area properties with knee-high weeds and flammable debris under a local fire-hazard ordinance. Always confirm requirements with your local fire protection district.