Monterey Park, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Duty holder
- Owner, agent, lessee, or possessor
- Nuisance declared
- § 9.87.030
- Notice issued by
- Fire chief
- Hearing demand window
- 10 days of notice
- Cost recovery
- Special assessment lien on parcel
- Installment threshold
- Assessments of $50+ over up to 5 years
- Interest cap
- 7% per year on deferred payments
Summary
In the City of Monterey Park property owners, agents, lessees and occupants must keep improved and unimproved lots, plus the abutting public right-of-way, free of weeds, rubbish and waste under Municipal Code Section 9.87.010. Section 9.87.030 declares violations a public nuisance, and the fire chief issues written abatement notices before the city removes growth and bills the owner through a lien process.
It shall be the duty of the owner, his agent, his lessee and of the person in possession of private real property, whether improved or unimproved, in the city to keep the same, together with the public right-of-way, if any, abutting or adjoining such property free from weeds, rubbish, refuse and waste materials of all kinds which may endanger or injure neighboring property, or the health, safety or welfare of the residents in the vicinity of such property.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 9.87 WEED AND RUBBISH CONTROL, adopted by Ordinance 1490 in 1979, defines "weeds" by adopting the list in California Government Code Section 39561.5 (Section 9.87.020) and declares weeds and rubbish on sidewalks, parking areas, streets and private property a nuisance dangerous to neighboring property and public welfare (Section 9.87.030). When the fire chief finds such a nuisance, Section 9.87.040 requires written notice to the property owner giving a stated abatement deadline; the owner may demand a public hearing before the city council within ten days of the notice, and failing to demand one waives the objection.
Notice goes by mail to the owner of record on the last equalized assessment roll (Section 9.87.050). The landowner may abate at his own expense before the fire chief acts (Section 9.87.100), and the fire chief or a city-hired contractor may enter private property to abate if not (Sections 9.87.060, 9.87.110). The fire chief tracks abatement costs per parcel, posts the cost schedule at least three days before council review, and the council confirms, modifies or rejects the account by resolution (Sections 9.87.120, 9.87.130, 9.87.140).
The confirmed cost becomes a special assessment lien against the parcel, filed with the county auditor and collected like ordinary municipal taxes (Sections 9.87.150, 9.87.160, 9.87.180). Assessments of fifty dollars or more may instead be paid in up to five annual installments bearing interest set by the city council not to exceed seven percent per year (Section 9.87.190). For seasonal, recurrent weed problems, the fire chief may order preventive chemical control ahead of the next germinating season (Section 9.87.070).
Violations & Fines
Failure to abate after notice lets the city remove the weeds and rubbish itself and bill the cost as a special assessment lien against the parcel under Sections 9.87.150 and 9.87.160. Delinquent assessments face the same penalties and foreclosure procedure as delinquent municipal taxes under Section 9.87.180, and owners who choose the installment option for assessments of $50 or more pay interest of up to seven percent per year until the lien is satisfied under Section 9.87.190.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a "weed" under Monterey Park's ordinance?
Can a property owner remove weeds before the city does?
How does the city recover the cost of clearing weeds?
Can I object before the city removes weeds from my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monterey Park
How Monterey Park compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Monterey Park to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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