Hayward requires weeds and grass under 6 inches citywide and under 4 inches in VHFHSZ hillside areas during fire season.
Hayward Municipal Code Chapter 7 and California Public Resources Code 4291 address overgrown vegetation. Citywide, property owners must keep weeds, grass, and dry vegetation under 6 inches in height to prevent fire hazards and nuisance conditions. In the eastern hillside Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, grass must be maintained at or below 4 inches during fire season, typically May through October, under the defensible space rule. Hayward Fire issues annual weed abatement notices in April with compliance deadlines in early May. Parcels that fail to comply are abated by a city contractor and the cost plus administrative fee is recorded as a lien against the property. Vacant lots and properties with absentee owners are the most common violators and face the steepest fees.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Hayward, CA
Construction noise in Hayward is generally permitted Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 7 PM, with no construction allowed on Sundays or holidays in residentia...
Hayward, CA
Commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross weight or 22 feet in length are prohibited from parking overnight in Hayward residential districts under Hayward...
Hayward, CA
Hayward permits on-street parking with a 72-hour maximum on public streets before a vehicle is deemed abandoned under CVC 22651(k). Many downtown blocks have...
Hayward, CA
Hayward restricts RV, trailer, and boat parking on public streets to 72 hours and on residential front yards where they must be screened or stored in side or...
Hayward, CA
Hayward bans barbed wire, razor wire, and electric fencing in residential zones. Chain link is allowed but may need front-yard screening. Historic districts ...
Hayward, CA
Hayward allows fences up to 6 feet in rear and side yards and 3 to 4 feet in front. Corner visibility triangles need lower heights. Taller fences need a perm...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle grass height limits.
See how Hayward's grass height limits rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.