Placer County, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Placer County's weed-abatement program is run as a wildfire-defense program rather than a generic nuisance program. The Hazardous Vegetation and Combustible Material Abatement ordinance (Placer County Code Section 9.32, Part 4), which the Board of Supervisors approved effective May 21, 2020, governs both improved and unimproved (vacant) parcels in the unincorporated county. Owners must abate hazardous vegetation: annual grasses and weeds maintained at four inches or less and tree branches limbed up six feet from the ground within the abatement area. California Public Resources Code 4291 already requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures, and the county ordinance extends abatement duties to owners of unimproved parcels when their vegetation lies within 100 feet of a neighboring structure or along roadways the county fire warden identifies as essential for safe ingress and egress. The county fire warden may require clearance beyond 100 feet in extraordinary high-hazard situations. If an owner does not abate after notice, the county can abate the hazard itself (or via contractor) and recover the cost from the owner, including by lien or special assessment. The program is administered with Placer County fire agencies; questions go to the Placer County Fire District.