Ceres, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- CMC Ch. 6.05, Weed Abatement
- Height standard
- Set by Council resolution, not fixed inches in code
- Large-parcel exception
- 30-ft perimeter clearance if over 20 acres
- Violation class
- Infraction, per-day
- Enforcement basis
- Cal. Gov't Code § 39560 et seq.
Summary
Ceres requires every property owner to clear weeds and rank growth from the entire parcel, or the City abates it and bills the cost as a lien.
It is the duty of every owner of private property within the City to keep their property clear of and to remove and destroy all weeds, rubble, rubbish or other rank growths located on their property. Weeds growing upon any lot or tract of land which appears on the assessment roll as a single parcel and exceeds 20 acres in size may be abated by the removal of such weeds from a 30-foot area around the entire perimeter of the parcel and around all structures situated thereon. In all other cases, weeds must be removed from the entire parcel.B.It is the duty of every owner of private property within the City to keep their property clear of and to remove all weeds, rubble, rubbish or other obstructions from the sidewalks and the half of the streets abutting their property. (Ord. No. 2020-1055, § 1, 1-27-2020)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Ceres Municipal Code § 6.05.040 makes it every owner's duty to remove weeds, rubble, rubbish, or other rank growth from their property and from the sidewalk and half-street abutting it. Parcels over 20 acres only need a 30-foot cleared perimeter around structures; smaller lots must be cleared entirely. The Code doesn't set a fixed inch height in the text itself, § 6.05.050 lets the City Council fix removal standards by resolution, and abatement follows the state procedure in Government Code § 39560 et seq. Weeds bearing windborne seed, sagebrush/chaparral, poison oak, and dry flammable brush are all covered under § 6.05.030's definition.
Violations & Fines
Infraction under § 6.05.060; each day the violation continues is a separate offense. Unabated weeds may be cleared by the City with costs and administrative charges assessed as a lien on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a maximum weed height written into the Ceres code?
Do I have to clear my whole lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ceres
How Ceres compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Ceres to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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