Riverside County, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Two primary ordinances govern weeds. Ordinance 695 addresses seasonal fire-hazard weeds and dry vegetation — the annual abatement program requires mowing and clearing of grasses and tumbleweeds before fire season. Ordinance 725 (general nuisance abatement) addresses overgrown vegetation that creates rodent habitat, obstructs sidewalks or signage, or otherwise degrades neighboring property, with violations cited year-round. Invasive plants identified by the County Agricultural Commissioner, such as arundo/giant cane, yellow star thistle, and Sahara mustard, may be subject to mandatory abatement under California Food & Ag Code. Russian thistle (tumbleweeds) accumulating against fences and structures are a significant fire and property-damage issue in the Coachella Valley and Perris basin — residents must keep them cleared. In the Coachella Valley the PM10 SIP (State Implementation Plan) targets wind-blown soil and vegetative debris, requiring stabilized landscaping on vacant parcels over specific thresholds. Poison oak along trails and riparian corridors is not a regulated noxious weed but can be cited under general nuisance when encroaching on public trails.