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

Santa Ana's property maintenance code, codified primarily in Municipal Code Chapter 10 and related nuisance abatement provisions, requires that all properties within the city limits be maintained in a clean, safe, and visually acceptable condition. Vegetation maintenance is a central component of these standards. Any grass, weeds, or similar plant growth that is allowed to exceed approximately 8 to 12 inches in height on any portion of a property — including front yards, side yards, rear yards, and parkway strips — may be declared a public nuisance. The standards apply to both occupied and vacant properties, and to residential and commercial parcels alike.

Santa Ana's Code Enforcement Division takes a proactive approach to property maintenance, conducting regular neighborhood sweeps in addition to responding to individual complaints. This proactive posture reflects the city's commitment to neighborhood revitalization and quality-of-life improvements across all 57 neighborhoods. When an overgrown or poorly maintained property is identified — whether through a sweep, a community report, or a referral from another city department — the property owner receives a written notice of violation specifying the conditions requiring correction and a compliance deadline, typically 10 to 15 days. If the property is occupied by a tenant, the property owner bears primary responsibility, though tenants may also be notified.

The maintenance obligation extends beyond simply mowing grass. Property owners must maintain all landscaped areas in a healthy, irrigated, and weed-free condition. Dead or dying lawns, bare soil areas, and accumulated yard debris all constitute maintenance violations. The city encourages drought-tolerant landscaping and native plant gardens as alternatives to traditional turf grass, but replacement landscaping must be intentional, maintained, and visually consistent with neighborhood standards — allowing a lawn to die and leaving bare dirt does not qualify as drought-tolerant landscaping.

If the property owner fails to correct the violation within the specified timeframe, the city may initiate abatement proceedings. Under its nuisance abatement authority, Santa Ana can hire contractors to clear overgrown vegetation, remove debris, and restore the property to a compliant condition, then bill the property owner for the full cost of abatement plus administrative fees. Unpaid abatement costs are placed as a lien against the property and accrue interest until paid. Abatement costs typically range from $500 to $2,500 depending on the property size and severity of the condition.

Property owners with questions about vegetation maintenance standards or who need clarification on compliant landscaping alternatives should contact the Santa Ana Code Enforcement Division at (714) 647-5600.