Berkeley treats overgrown weeds as a nuisance and fire hazard. Weeds over 6 inches (or 4 inches in the fire zone) must be abated; invasive broom and acacia are targeted for removal.
Under Berkeley Municipal Code Chapter 14.48 (Public Nuisance) and 19.48 (Fire Code), property owners must abate weeds that pose fire, rodent, or aesthetic nuisance. The Vegetation Management Unit conducts annual inspections beginning in April and issues Notices to Abate. In the Berkeley Hills VHFHSZ, weed height must not exceed 4 inches during fire season under PRC 4291. Non-compliance leads to city-contracted abatement at the owner's cost (typically 2,000-10,000 dollars plus 25 percent admin fee) and can result in a lien. Berkeley particularly targets French broom (Genista monspessulana), Scotch broom, acacia, blue gum eucalyptus, and pampas grass - all flagged as fire-fueling invasives by the California Invasive Plant Council. The East Bay Regional Park District and city partner on broom pulls and chipper days each spring. Homeowners in the hills should remove broom within 100 feet of structures. Herbicide use is permitted but glyphosate is restricted on city property per Berkeley's integrated pest management policy. Contact BFD at (510) 981-2489.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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