Fontana, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Fontana Municipal Code declares weeds, dry grass, brush, and combustible debris on private property to be a public nuisance when they create a fire hazard, harbor vermin, or visibly blight the neighborhood. The city administers this through an Annual Weed Abatement Program operated by Code Enforcement in coordination with SBCoFD Fire Prevention. Each spring (typically starting in late April), Code Enforcement inspectors drive every block and every vacant lot in Fontana, photograph noncompliant parcels, and mail a Notice to Abate to the property owner of record. The notice lists the violations, the deadline for compliance (commonly 30 days), and the hearing rights of the owner. If the property is not cleared by the deadline, the city sends a licensed abatement contractor to disc, mow, or remove the vegetation. The full cost of that work, plus inspection and administrative fees (often totaling several hundred to several thousand dollars), is submitted to the County Auditor-Controller under Government Code 25845 and recorded as a special assessment on the property tax bill. Liens cannot be avoided by transferring the property and must be paid before clear title can be transferred. Vacant parcels in Fontana are inspected more aggressively than occupied homes, but owner-occupied yards with chronic overgrowth also receive notices. Keeping weeds trimmed year-round is the best defense.