San Bernardino County, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Weed abatement in unincorporated San Bernardino County is implemented as fire-hazard abatement. County Code Section 23.0301 makes it the duty of every owner to abate all fire hazards from their land, declaring such hazards a public nuisance whose abatement cost may be specially assessed under Government Code Section 25845. The code defines flammable vegetation differently by region: in the Valley Area (Section 23.0302) it means plants not pruned of dead material, grass over four inches, and tumbleweeds (Russian thistle); in the Desert Area (Section 23.0305) it adds salt cedar limbs and tumbleweeds regardless of distance from structures; and in the Mountain Area (Section 23.0304) it includes pine needles or mulch over two inches deep and dead vegetation within 100 feet of structures. Owners must maintain a firebreak by clearing flammable vegetation for at least 30 feet around buildings (Section 23.0301), and provide a fuel break from 30 to 100 feet. Combustible debris, junk, and tumbleweeds must be completely removed per the County's Violation Explanation guidance. For parcels with over five continuous acres of hazard vegetation, Section 23.0303 allows an alternative 40-foot-wide cleared firebreak strip, except for tumbleweeds. The County mails abatement notices and gives owners about 30 days to comply.