Ridgecrest, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard
- No fixed height. "overgrown" condition
- Trigger
- Dead, decayed, infested, or overgrown vegetation
- First offense
- Infraction
- Non-compliance
- City abates and liens the property
Summary
Ridgecrest, in Kern County, California, treats dead, decayed, infested, diseased, or overgrown weeds and vegetation on a property as a public nuisance under the city's general nuisance ordinance, rather than setting a fixed height limit.
Property maintained in a condition so defective, unsightly, or in a state of such deterioration, disrepair or neglect that it causes a health, safety or fire hazard or an attractive nuisance to children, such as:a.Accumulation of debris, junk, garbage or refuse.b.Storage of personal property (other than items designated for outdoor use) in front or exterior side yard areas visible to public view, including, but not limited to, inoperative or dismantled motor vehicles or vehicle parts, building materials not currently being used for the construction of improvements on the site, and broken or discarded furniture, appliances or household furnishings.c.Trees, weeds, or other vegetation which are dead, decayed, infested, diseased, or overgrown.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6).
Full Breakdown
The Ridgecrest City Code doesn't set a numeric grass or weed height; instead Section 11-1(3)(c) lists "trees, weeds, or other vegetation which are dead, decayed, infested, diseased, or overgrown" among conditions that make a property a nuisance when its overall condition is defective, unsightly, or neglected enough to pose a health, safety, or fire hazard. The city follows the same notice-hearing-abatement process as other property nuisances: a planning commission hearing, a compliance deadline, and city-performed abatement with a lien against the property if the owner doesn't act.
Violations & Fines
A first violation is an infraction, escalating to a possible misdemeanor on a third offense within 12 months. Unabated weeds can be cleared by the city and billed to the owner as a property lien.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a maximum weed or grass height in Ridgecrest?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ridgecrest
How Ridgecrest compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Ridgecrest 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 Kern County handle weed ordinances.