Rancho Cucamonga, CA Landscaping Rules: Grass Height Limits (2026)

Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Code Chapter 8.17 (Nuisance Abatement) and Chapter 8.19 (Weed Abatement) treat overgrown weeds and dry vegetation as a public nuisance. Residential properties must maintain grass, weeds, and brush so they do not exceed approximately 6 inches in height on front, side, and rear yards, and must be kept free of accumulated dry material that poses a fire hazard. In the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone covering Etiwanda and the northside foothills, more stringent PRC 4291 defensible space standards require grasses and non-native annual vegetation to be cut to 4 inches within 100 feet of structures during fire season. The citys Code Enforcement team conducts routine inspections and responds to complaints, issuing a Notice of Violation with a compliance deadline of usually 14 days. Unresolved violations result in administrative citations starting around 100 dollars and escalating to 500 dollars or more for repeat offenses, plus abatement by contractor with costs and administrative fees placed as a lien on the property. The rules apply equally to vacant lots, foreclosed properties, and homeowner-occupied residences. HOAs in Terra Vista, Victoria Gardens, Rancho Etiwanda, and Haven View typically enforce even stricter CC and R standards.