Santa Clara County weed abatement program requires unmaintained grass and weeds to be cut to 4 inches or less in fire hazard areas. The County Fire Marshal enforces annual abatement, typically with a May deadline.
Santa Clara County operates a Weed Abatement Program administered by the Fire Marshal Office that requires property owners, particularly those in hillside and rural-urban interface areas, to maintain grass and weeds at a safe height before and during fire season. Under Government Code 51182 and County Ordinance, grasses must be cut to a height not exceeding 4 inches (some jurisdictions allow up to 6 inches on flat lots). The annual deadline typically falls by late April or early May, before fire season escalates. Owners receive notice of the program each spring listing properties subject to inspection. The County hires contractors to perform abatement on non-compliant parcels, with all costs plus administrative fees placed as a lien on the property tax bill. In urban and suburban unincorporated pockets, tall weeds are also addressed as a nuisance under the County Code. Native grasses and fire-resistant landscaping can qualify for alternative maintenance plans if pre-approved.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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See how Santa Clara County's grass height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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