San Bernardino County Code Ch. 23.12 declares weeds, dry grass, and rubbish a public nuisance. Vacant lots must be cleared annually or face forced abatement with tax liens for non-compliance.
San Bernardino County Code of Ordinances Chapter 23.12 and Public Resources Code 4291 together declare weeds, dry grass, brush, rubbish, and combustible material on private property to be a public nuisance and fire hazard. Property owners are required to abate these conditions annually. The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District Weed Abatement Program inspects parcels starting each spring, publishing a hazard parcel list in local newspapers identifying properties scheduled for abatement. Owners receive a Notice to Abate giving 30 days to clear the property. Vacant lots in urban and suburban areas must maintain cleared firebreaks of at least 30 feet from adjoining properties and structures. Noxious weeds including tumbleweeds (Russian thistle), yellow starthistle, and puncturevine must be cleared. In desert communities (Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree), tumbleweed accumulations are a major enforcement focus. Mountain areas focus on dry chaparral and ladder fuels.
Failure to abate within 30 days triggers forced county abatement with costs plus a 25 percent administrative fee filed as a tax lien on the property. Additional administrative citations from 100 to 500 dollars may be issued. Repeat offender parcels are placed on the annual abatement list automatically.
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See how San Bernardino County's weed ordinances rules stack up against other locations.
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