Camarillo, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual Program
- Spring notices for fire season
- Deadline
- Typically June 1
- City Abatement
- Costs charged to property owner
- Lien Authority
- Costs recorded as property lien
- Code Section
- CMC Ch. 9.24
Summary
Camarillo Municipal Code Chapter 9.24 authorizes the city to require weed abatement on private property. Property owners must remove weeds, dry grass, and combustible vegetation that poses a fire hazard or constitutes a nuisance. Annual weed abatement notices are sent before fire season.
5004. “Noxious weed” means any species of plant that is, or is liable to be, troublesome, aggressive, intrusive, detrimental, or destructive to agriculture, silviculture, or important native species, and difficult to control or eradicate, which the director, by regulation, designates to be a noxious weed. In determining whether or not a species shall be designated a noxious weed for the purposes of protecting silviculture or important native plant species, the director shall not make that designation if the designation will be detrimental to agriculture. (Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 556, Sec. 1.
Full Breakdown
CMC Chapter 9.24 (Fire Prevention and Weed Abatement) requires property owners to maintain their land free of fire-hazardous vegetation including dry weeds, grass, and brush. The city's annual weed abatement program sends notices in spring requiring clearance before the fire season (typically by June 1). Property owners who fail to comply receive a final notice with a deadline, after which the city contracts for vegetation clearance and charges all costs to the property owner. Costs may be placed as a special assessment lien against the property. The Ventura County Fire Protection District enforces additional vegetation management requirements on properties in fire hazard areas. Vacant lots are particularly subject to weed abatement enforcement. In Camarillo's HOA communities, landscape maintenance is continuously enforced through the association, and weed control is a primary concern. Most HOAs maintain common area landscaping through professional services and require individual lot owners to keep yards weed-free.
Violations & Fines
Non-compliance with weed abatement notices results in city-performed clearance with costs (often $500-$2,000+) assessed as a lien on the property per CMC 9.24. Additional fire code violations may be assessed by the Ventura County Fire District. Contact Community Development at (805) 388-5360.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I need to clear weeds in Camarillo?
What happens if I ignore the weed abatement notice?
What about vacant lots?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Camarillo
How Camarillo compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Camarillo to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle weed ordinances.