Rancho Cucamonga, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 8.46.040(B)
- Grass height limit
- 4 inches maximum
- Clearance near structures
- 50 feet of chaparral
- Enforcing agency
- Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District
- Emergency compliance
- 72 hours for extreme hazards
- Appeal window
- 20 days to hearing officer
Summary
Every property owner in Rancho Cucamonga must abate fire hazards under Municipal Code Section 8.46.020, and Section 8.46.010 flags any dry grass over four inches tall as combustible vegetation. Section 8.46.040 sets that four-inch cap as the maintenance standard and requires clearing chaparral within 50 feet of structures, enforced by the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District.
Abatement for undeveloped parcels where the combustible vegetation is more than 50 percent chaparral can be accomplished by the removal of all vegetation that is within 50 feet of any structure, including structures on adjacent parcels; removal of all vegetation to a distance of 30 feet from property lines and adjacent roads; removal of all dead and dying tree and plant material and noxious weeds; and maintaining grasses to a maximum height of four inches.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4999536; v21 updated 2026-07-15).
Full Breakdown
020 places an affirmative duty on every owner of private real property in the city to abate fire hazards on the parcel, including sidewalks, parkways, trails, and easements under the owner's control, and declares any unabated hazard a public nuisance. 010 defines combustible vegetation to include tumbleweeds, dead or downed trees, dead limbs and plant debris, dry invasive or noxious weeds, chaparral, and dry grasses over four inches in height. 040(B) requires clearing all vegetation within 50 feet of any structure, including structures on neighboring parcels, clearing to 30 feet from property lines and roads, removing dead or dying plant material, and keeping grasses cut to a maximum of four inches.
040(C). 030. 050 shortens the compliance window to 72 hours from posting or mailing. 080, and a successful appeal refunds the appeal fee within 30 days. 070.
Violations & Fines
Failing to abate a fire hazard after notice, interfering with the fire chief's abatement work, or refusing entry to a district contractor is a misdemeanor under Section 8.46.090, punishable under Chapter 1.12 and enforceable through administrative citations. Beyond criminal penalties, the district can perform the abatement itself and bill the owner for the cost plus an inspection fee, and unpaid bills convert into a lien collected with property taxes under Section 8.46.070.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass and weeds get on my Rancho Cucamonga property before it's a violation?
Who enforces the weed and fire hazard rules in Rancho Cucamonga?
What happens if I don't clear weeds after getting a notice in Rancho Cucamonga?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rancho Cucamonga
How Rancho Cucamonga compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Rancho Cucamonga to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle weed ordinances.