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

Riverside enforces vegetation height through the Property Maintenance chapter of the municipal code and through annual weed-abatement programs administered by the Fire Department. Front yards, parkways, and visible side yards must be maintained so grass, weeds, and dry brush do not create a fire hazard or blight the neighborhood. Code Enforcement typically issues a courtesy notice first, giving owners 10 to 30 days to cut or remove the vegetation. If the owner fails to comply, the City may abate the nuisance and recover costs through a lien on the property tax roll. Properties within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (hillside areas near La Sierra, Alessandro Heights, and Sycamore Canyon) must maintain a 100-foot defensible space per California Public Resources Code section 4291 — 30 feet of cleared zone closest to structures and a 70-foot reduced-fuel zone. Dead grass, tumbleweeds, and Russian thistle must be removed. During the annual weed-abatement season (typically April through June) the Fire Marshal inspects vacant parcels and issues abatement orders. Owners of vacant lots should expect annual notices and should disc or mow their lots by the City's posted deadline to avoid City-contracted abatement charges, which commonly run several hundred dollars plus a 25 percent administrative fee. Artificial turf and drought-tolerant landscaping are permitted alternatives that eliminate mowing obligations.