Bakersfield's weed abatement program under BMC Chapter 8.27 declares dry grass, weeds, and combustible vegetation a fire hazard and public nuisance. Annual notices are issued in spring. Vacant lots and improved properties must be cleared or disced to create firebreaks. Non-compliant properties are abated by city contractors at owner expense.
Chapter 8.27 authorizes the Fire Chief to declare weeds, dry grass, rubbish, and combustible materials a public nuisance. Each year the City Council adopts a resolution declaring weed nuisances and directs the Fire Department to issue abatement notices. Owners receive mailed notice with a hearing date and compliance deadline. Acceptable abatement methods include mowing to under 4 inches, discing vacant lots, or cutting firebreaks around structures (typically 100 ft of defensible space in WUI zones under PRC §4291). Properties not abated by deadline are added to the city's contractor list, cleared, and all costs (labor, equipment, admin overhead of typically 30–50%) are assessed as a special assessment and collected with property taxes.
Costs of city abatement plus administrative fees are assessed as a property tax lien. Repeat offenders may face infraction or misdemeanor citations under BMC 8.80 with fines up to $1,000. Willful maintenance of hazardous vegetation in fire season can trigger additional fire code penalties.
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield Municipal Code 6.04.230 prohibits keeping any animal, bird, or fowl that by sound or cry unreasonably disturbs the peace or interferes with the c...
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield Municipal Code Chapter 9.22 prohibits any loud, unnecessary noise that disturbs the peace or quiet of any neighborhood, or that causes discomfort...
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield does not generally ban overnight street parking, but BMC 10.40.010 makes it unlawful for any vehicle (operable or not) to remain parked on a publ...
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield does not restrict year-round lawn ornaments (statues, gnomes, flamingos, religious figures, sports themes) on residential property. There is no p...
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield does not regulate residential inflatable holiday displays by size, lighting, or motor noise. They qualify as seasonal decorations exempt under BM...
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield's outdoor lighting standards exempt seasonal decorations as long as they are not in use for more than 60 consecutive days. Residential lots zoned...
See how Bakersfield's weed ordinances rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.