Pomona Weed Ordinances Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Pomona's weed abatement program operates under Title 8, Chapter 8.04 of the Municipal Code, which designates weeds, dry brush, dead vegetation, tumbleweeds, and other combustible plant material as public nuisances subject to mandatory removal. The program serves dual purposes: maintaining neighborhood aesthetics and appearance standards, and reducing wildfire and structural fire risk in a city that experiences extreme summer heat and periodic Santa Ana wind events. Pomona's inland San Gabriel Valley location, combined with significant numbers of vacant and underutilized parcels, makes proactive weed control a public safety priority.

The annual abatement cycle begins in early spring, when the city mails notices to property owners identified through prior-year violations, complaint history, and proactive inspections. These notices require all weeds and combustible vegetation to be cleared to bare soil or maintained at a maximum of 3 inches by a specified deadline, typically May 1. Property owners who comply by the deadline face no further action. Those who fail to clear their parcels receive a final notice with a shorter compliance window, after which the city authorizes its abatement contractor to enter the property and perform the clearance. All costs — including the contractor's charges and an administrative processing fee — are compiled into a special assessment and recorded as a lien against the property, collectible through the annual property tax bill.

The LA County Fire Department operates a parallel weed abatement program that inspects vacant and unimproved parcels throughout the county. Property owners in Pomona may receive notices from both the city and the county independently, and compliance with one program does not automatically satisfy the other. The county program focuses on fire hazard reduction within designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, though parcels outside these zones may also be inspected. Both programs emphasize that abatement is the property owner's responsibility, and the costs of city or county-performed work invariably exceed what a property owner would pay by hiring their own landscaping service.

In addition to the annual cycle, Pomona's Code Enforcement Division responds year-round to complaints about overgrown weeds on both improved and vacant properties. Complaint-driven investigations follow the same graduated enforcement process: notice, citation, and abatement. Properties with recurring violations may be placed on a monitored list and inspected proactively each season without waiting for a new complaint.