Pleasanton, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 20 inches for weeds and uncontrolled growth
- Noxious weeds
- Prohibited outright on developed property
- Exempt growth
- Cultivated flowers and gardens
- Abatement
- City can cut and bill owner after notice
- Governing section
- PMC § 20.65.100, amending IPMC Section 302.4
Summary
Pleasanton caps weeds and uncontrolled plant growth on developed property at 20 inches under Pleasanton Municipal Code § 20.65.100. If an owner ignores a notice to cut, the city can send crews onto the property to remove the growth and bill the owner for the cost.
All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or uncontrolled plant growth in excess of 20 inches in height. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited on developed properties. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs provided: however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens. Upon failure of the owner or agent having charge of a property to cut and destroy weeds after service of a notice of violation, they shall be subject to prosecution in accordance with Section 107.4 and as prescribed by the authority having jurisdiction. Upon failure to comply with the notice of violation, any duly authorized employee of the jurisdiction or contractor hired by the jurisdiction shall be authorized to enter upon the property in violation and cut and destroy the weeds growing thereon, and the costs of such removal shall be paid by the owner or agent responsible for the property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4955754; v17 updated 2026-06-02).
Full Breakdown
65, last amended by Ordinance 2299 effective October 21, 2025. It requires that all premises and exterior property be maintained free from weeds or uncontrolled plant growth in excess of 20 inches in height, and it prohibits noxious weeds outright on any developed property. The section defines weeds broadly as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation other than trees or shrubs, but carves out a specific exception for cultivated flowers and gardens, so an intentionally planted flower bed or vegetable garden taller than 20 inches is not a violation.
4, the Property Maintenance Code's general violation-penalty provision. 100 authorizes a self-help remedy: a duly authorized city employee or a contractor hired by the city may enter the property, cut and destroy the weeds, and then bill the removal cost to the owner or responsible agent. The rule sits in the same chapter as Pleasanton's motor-vehicle storage and pool-enclosure maintenance rules, all enforced by the Building and Safety Division as part of routine property maintenance code compliance.
Violations & Fines
Failing to abate weeds over 20 inches after a notice of violation exposes the owner to prosecution under Section 107.4, with each day of continued violation treated as a separate offense, plus cost recovery if the city cuts the growth itself and bills the owner or responsible agent for the removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can weeds get before Pleasanton cites me?
What happens if I ignore a weed abatement notice?
Does my flower garden count as a weed violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pleasanton
How Pleasanton compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Pleasanton to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle weed ordinances.