Colusa County, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Numeric height limit
- none set by this section
- Standard
- keep landscaping weed and debris free
- Trigger size
- landscape 2,500+ sq ft
- Parking-lot rule
- §44-3.20.060 mirrors duty
- Max penalty
- $5,000 fine / 6 months jail
Summary
Unincorporated Colusa County's Zoning Code doesn't set a numeric weed-height limit, but Section 44-3.10.020(G) calls for landscaped areas on qualifying projects to be kept free of debris, trash and weeds, with plant material that needs pruning or mowing maintained on a periodic basis so it doesn't overgrow or visually deteriorate.
G. Maintenance. All landscaped areas should be kept free of debris, trash, weeds, and other unsightly material. Landscape material requiring pruning or mowing should be maintained on a periodic basis to avoid overgrowth and visual deterioration.
Full Breakdown
010 to new construction or rehabilitated landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more that need a building permit, plan check or zoning permit, in the urban residential (R-1 to R-4), commercial (C-1, C-2, C-H, C-R, MU), industrial (M-1, M-2, RD) and recreational (G-R) zones. 020(G) does not set a specific weed height in inches; instead it directs that landscaped areas be kept free of debris, trash, weeds and other unsightly material, and that landscape material needing pruning or mowing be maintained on a periodic basis to avoid overgrowth and visual deterioration.
060 for interior parking-lot landscaping, requiring plant materials there to be kept free from weeds, debris and undesirable materials, with damaged plantings replaced under the approved landscape plan. Both provisions sit within the county's landscaping article and are checked by the Department of Planning and Building against the landscape plan approved for the project, rather than through a separate weed-abatement inspection program.
Violations & Fines
The Zoning Code doesn't attach a standalone citation schedule to overgrown weeds; upkeep is measured against the landscape plan the Department of Planning and Building approved for the project. A property that lets required landscaping deteriorate can be pursued under the Zoning Code's general public-nuisance and abatement provisions at Section 44-1.130.040, and violations of the underlying landscape conditions fall under Section 44-1.130.030: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $5,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, with abatement required under Chapter 42.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does unincorporated Colusa County set a maximum weed height?
What triggers the landscape maintenance duty?
What can the county do about a neglected required landscape?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Colusa County
How Colusa County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Colusa County to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.