Long Beach Grass Height Limits Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 9.37, the Long Beach Nuisance Code, establishes the primary enforcement framework for overgrown vegetation on private property. Under Section 9.37.090, overgrown weeds, grass, or vegetation that causes detriment to neighboring properties, is likely to attract rodents or vermin, creates a fire hazard, or otherwise impairs the health, safety, or welfare of the community constitutes a nuisance. Property owners who receive a notice of violation are given a compliance period to abate the condition; if they fail to act, the City may perform abatement at the owner's expense and place costs as a lien on the property. Chapter 8.76 (Property Maintenance) independently lists overgrown weeds, trash, and debris in yards among the most common violations enforced by the Code Enforcement Bureau. Complaints are handled by calling Code Enforcement at (562) 570-2633.

Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 14.28 establishes specific height standards for vegetation in the parkway — the strip of land between the sidewalk and the street curb. Ground cover plants, including grass, turf, and low-growing perennials, must remain at or below 8 inches in height. Shrubs and accent plantings in the parkway are capped at 32 inches. Traditional grass is discouraged in parkways under the City's Smartscape program, which promotes drought-tolerant ground cover consistent with Southern California water conservation goals. Adjacent property owners bear full maintenance responsibility for parkway vegetation, including mowing, watering, and pruning. Trees in parkways must meet minimum 15-foot spacing requirements and are subject to separate street tree regulations administered by Public Works.

Long Beach does not publish a single numeric maximum grass height for private front yards and rear yards beyond the parkway, relying instead on the nuisance standard under Chapter 9.37. Practically, grass or weeds that are visibly overgrown — generally anything conspicuously taller than a well-maintained lawn — may be reported by neighbors and trigger a code inspection. The City's Code Enforcement Bureau (562-570-2633) handles complaints and typically issues a notice with a 15- to 30-day correction window before administrative citations begin. Because Long Beach is a dense urban city of approximately 466,000 residents, Code Enforcement prioritizes overgrown properties that generate neighbor complaints, attract vermin, or pose fire risks in the drier summer and fall months.