Lancaster, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Max weed height
- 6 inches (Sec. 15.24.150)
- Excluded plants
- Cultivated flowers, fruits, vegetables
- Noxious weeds
- Prohibited outright, any height
- Enforcing official
- Building Official / code enforcement
- Late citation fee
- Up to $30 (Sec. 1.16.100)
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 1139, Oct. 28, 2025
Summary
Lancaster caps weeds and plant growth on every property at six inches under Municipal Code Section 15.24.150, part of the city's adopted International Property Maintenance Code, and bans noxious weeds outright, though cultivated flowers, fruits, and vegetables are excluded from the rule. Violations become misdemeanors or administrative citations enforced by Building & Safety code officers.
Section 302.4 of the International Property Maintenance Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 302.4 Weeds. All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of six (6) inches. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants, and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers, fruits, and/or vegetables.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 10 - 2025).
Full Breakdown
Adopted by Ordinance No. 4 of the International Property Maintenance Code to require that 'all premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of six (6) inches,' and separately prohibits all noxious weeds outright. The chapter defines 'weeds' broadly as all grasses, annual plants, and vegetation other than trees or shrubs, but expressly carves out cultivated flowers, fruits, and vegetables from the height cap. 100 whenever a violation is found or suspected. 28 of the Municipal Code. 16's citywide administrative citation rules, an unpaid penalty becomes a debt to the city; if the citation was issued to the property owner, the city can record a special assessment lien against the property, and the Los Angeles County tax collector then adds the unpaid amount to the property's regular tax bill, collectible with the same penalties as ordinary property taxes. A late payment on top of the base citation adds a fee capped at $30.
Violations & Fines
Overgrown weeds above six inches or any noxious weed growth violate Section 15.24.150 and Section 15.24.090, punishable through the penalty, administrative citation, and abatement provisions of Chapters 1.12, 1.16, and 8.28. An unpaid administrative citation adds a late fee of up to $30 and becomes a lien on the property under Section 1.16.100, with the unpaid balance added to the owner's Los Angeles County property tax bill and collected the same way as delinquent taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can weeds be on my Lancaster property before it's a violation?
Does the weed height rule apply to my flower beds and vegetable garden?
What happens if I don't cut my weeds after Lancaster cites me?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lancaster
How Lancaster compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Lancaster to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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