Sunnyvale requires property owners to maintain lawns and weeds under roughly six inches as a nuisance and fire prevention measure under Municipal Code Chapter 9.48 weed abatement provisions.
Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 9.48 declares tall weeds and overgrown vegetation a public nuisance. While the code does not specify a numeric height for ornamental lawn grass, enforcement typically targets weeds and grasses exceeding six inches that create fire hazards, harbor vermin, or obstruct sidewalks and visibility at intersections. Neighborhood Preservation officers inspect on complaint and issue notice-and-order letters giving owners 10 to 14 days to mow or abate. Repeat offenders may face administrative citations and abatement by city contractors billed to the owner. Sunnyvale encourages drought-tolerant landscaping and does not require turf, so allowing an area to naturalize with native plants is often an acceptable alternative to mowing.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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