Merced, CA Landscaping Rules: Grass Height Limits (2026)

The incorporated City of Merced regulates tall grass and weeds through its nuisance law, not through a set maximum height. Merced Municipal Code Section 8.40.070 (Maintenance of property; nuisances) lists as nuisances "overgrown vegetation likely to harbor rats, vermin, and other nuisances or having a tendency to depreciate the aesthetic and property values of surrounding properties," and separately prohibits "any accumulation of waste paper, hay, grass, dirt, straw, weeds, litter or combustible trash upon premises" or the public areas in front of them. Because the standard is whether vegetation is overgrown and a nuisance, City of Merced Code Enforcement evaluates each property rather than measuring against a single inch threshold. This differs from cities that publish a fixed limit such as 12 inches. Enforcement is generally complaint-driven: a notice of violation is issued, the owner is given time to abate, and if the owner fails to act the City may abate the nuisance and recover costs. Dry, dead grass and weeds can also raise weed-abatement and fire-hazard concerns. Note this is the City's rule for properties inside Merced city limits, separate from the Merced County weed-abatement program that covers unincorporated areas.