Apple Valley, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 8.28.070, amending IPMC § 302.4
- Named species
- Tumbleweed, Russian thistle, CA invasive list
- Standard used
- Species-based, no inch-height trigger
- Self-help remedy
- Town/contractor cuts weeds, bills owner
- Related fire-hazard rule
- § 6.30.030(A), dry/dead vegetation
- Enforcement path
- IPMC § 107.5, Title 1, Chapter 6.30
Summary
Apple Valley requires every property to stay free of invasive weeds under Section 8.28.070, its local amendment to the International Property Maintenance Code's weed section, naming tumbleweed and Russian thistle among the species that trigger enforcement. Owners who ignore a notice of violation face prosecution, and the Town can send a crew to cut the weeds and bill the owner.
Section 302.4 is amended to read as follows: Premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds listed in the California Invasive Plant Inventory and USDA database, including, but not limited to, all forms of tumbleweed and Russian Thistle. Upon failure of the owner or agent having charge of a property to cut and destroy weeds after service of a notice of violation, they shall be subject to prosecution in accordance with Section 107.5 and Title 1 and Chapter 6.30 of the Apple Valley Municipal Code. Upon failure to comply with the notice of violation, any duly authorized employee of the jurisdiction or contractor hired by the jurisdiction shall be authorized to enter upon the property in violation and cut and destroy the weeds growing thereon, and the costs of such removal shall be paid by the owner or agent responsible for the property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
4 to require premises and exterior property to stay free from weeds listed in the California Invasive Plant Inventory and USDA database, expressly naming all forms of tumbleweed and Russian thistle. Rather than setting an inch-height trigger like some jurisdictions' weed codes, Apple Valley's standard is species-based: any listed invasive weed on the property can draw a notice of violation regardless of how tall it has grown. 30 of the Municipal Code. The Town does not have to wait for a conviction to act: any duly authorized Town employee or a contractor hired by the Town can enter the property, cut and destroy the weeds, and charge the removal cost to the responsible owner or agent. 030(F)(5) lists overgrown, dead, decayed, dry or hazardous vegetation among the property-maintenance nuisance conditions in that chapter.
Violations & Fines
Failure to cut and destroy listed weeds after a notice of violation exposes the owner or agent to prosecution under Section 107.5 of the Property Maintenance Code and under Title 1 and Chapter 6.30 of the Municipal Code; the Town can also enter and remove the weeds itself and bill the responsible owner or agent for the cost, without waiting for a court judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Apple Valley set a maximum weed height like other cities?
What happens if I ignore a weed violation notice?
Are dead shrubs or brush covered by a different rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Apple Valley
How Apple Valley compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Apple Valley to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle weed ordinances.