San Bernardino, CA Landscaping Rules: Grass Height Limits (2026)

The City of San Bernardino enforces overgrown grass and weeds as a public nuisance under San Bernardino Municipal Code Chapter 8.30 and the county fire hazard abatement rules in parcels within Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Under the general nuisance code, grass and weeds over a specified height on any improved or unimproved parcel can be declared a nuisance by the Code Enforcement Division, particularly when they harbor rodents, attract illegal dumping, or create a fire hazard adjacent to neighboring structures. Standard residential expectations are that lawns and front-yard landscaping be maintained below roughly six inches and free of noxious weeds. Within VHFHSZ areas and during the annual fire season, the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District additionally requires grass to be mowed to four inches or less as part of PRC 4291 defensible space. The county issues Hazard Abatement Notices each spring that direct property owners to clear dry grass and weeds by a specified deadline, typically in May or June. If the owner fails to comply, the county contracts weed abatement and bills the property owner for the work plus administrative fees, which can be recorded as a special assessment or lien on the property. City Code Enforcement also responds to complaints about overgrown yards year-round, with administrative citations starting around 100 dollars and escalating.