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

Pomona's grass height and lawn maintenance requirements are found within the property maintenance and nuisance abatement provisions of Municipal Code Title 8 (Health and Safety). The code establishes a maximum grass and weed height of 12 inches on all improved residential and commercial parcels. This standard applies to all turf areas, groundcover zones, and any grassy area on the lot, including side yards, rear yards, and the parkway strip between the sidewalk and curb that, while technically part of the public right-of-way, is the maintenance responsibility of the adjacent property owner. Grass that exceeds 12 inches is classified as a public nuisance subject to abatement.

Unimproved and vacant lots face more stringent requirements due to fire risk. During fire season, which runs from June 1 through November 30, all combustible vegetation on vacant parcels must be cut to 3 inches or less or cleared entirely to bare soil. This requirement reflects Pomona's location in the inland San Gabriel Valley, where summer temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees and dry Santa Ana winds create elevated fire conditions. The LA County Fire Department also conducts annual weed abatement inspections of vacant and unimproved parcels throughout the county, and property owners may receive notices from both city and county agencies.

Code Enforcement addresses grass height violations through a graduated process. Initial complaints result in a notice of violation providing the property owner 10 to 15 days to bring the property into compliance. If the owner fails to act, the city may issue an administrative citation with fines starting at $100 for a first violation. For persistent non-compliance, the city has the authority to hire a contractor to abate the overgrown vegetation and place a lien on the property for the abatement costs, which are then collected through the annual property tax bill. This abatement authority is particularly important for vacant lots with absentee owners, which represent a recurring challenge in several Pomona neighborhoods.