Palo Alto requires property owners to control weeds and dead vegetation that create fire hazards or public nuisances. Hillside parcels in the VHFHSZ face mandatory annual weed abatement inspections.
Under Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 8.04 and the California Fire Code adopted by Palo Alto, property owners must remove weeds, dry grass, dead brush, and other flammable vegetation that create a fire hazard or public nuisance. In the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone in the western foothills, this is enforced through annual inspections by Palo Alto Fire. Notices typically go out in spring with a compliance deadline before peak fire season. In the flatland, weed complaints are handled by Code Enforcement case by case. Owners who fail to comply face city-contracted abatement billed as a lien on the property. Herbicide use must comply with state pesticide regulations; mechanical mowing and hand pulling are preferred.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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