Santa Maria, CA Landscaping Rules: Grass Height Limits (2026)

Santa Maria regulates tall grass through its nuisance and weed-abatement framework rather than a specific inches-tall threshold. Title 5, Chapter 5-8 (Weeds and Rubbish on Private Property) — Section 5-8.02 — makes it unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to allow weeds, vines, shrubs, or brush which upon maturity will bear seeds of a wingy or downy nature, or which attain such growth as to become a fire menace when dry, or which contain poisonous oils, or which are otherwise dangerous to the life, health, comfort, or convenience of the community, to remain upon private property after notice by the City. Title 5, Chapter 5-6, Article 2 (Section 5-6.202, Unlawful Property Nuisance) reinforces that overgrown vegetation maintained in a manner offensive or detrimental to health, safety, or welfare is a public nuisance subject to abatement under the chapter's procedures, with a Notice of Nuisance recordable against title. The City runs an Annual Weed Abatement Program; inspections start June 1 to prepare for fire season. The administrative cost of City-performed abatement is added to the property tax bill as a special assessment under the Streets and Highways Code process referenced in the annual abatement resolution.