San Diego County Weed Ordinances Rules (2026) — What You Need to Know

San Diego County's Defensible Space for Fire Protection Ordinance is codified in Sections 68.401 through 68.406 of the County Code of Regulatory Ordinances. The Board of Supervisors has found that the accumulation of combustible vegetation, dead or dying trees, green waste, rubbish, and other materials on private property creates a fire hazard that is potentially injurious to the health, safety, and general welfare of the public.

The ordinance requires property owners to clear combustible vegetation in a 100-foot radius from any structure. Combustible vegetation is defined as any material that, left in its natural state, will readily ignite, burn, and cause fire to move to any structure or other vegetation — including dry grass, brush, weeds, litter, and waste. Within the first 50 feet of the 100-foot radius, fire-resistant irrigated landscaping may be planted.

Every spring, the San Diego County Fire Department's Fire Marshal identifies properties where overgrown weeds and vegetation present a potential fire hazard. Property owners are notified and given 30 days to demonstrate compliance. Compliance inspections begin in May. Property owners who fail to clear their land within the deadline will have the work done by a public contractor and will be charged at a premium rate.

Approved methods for removing prohibited materials include mowing, cutting, grazing, and trimming that leave the plant root structure intact, as specified in Section 68.406. Re-planting may be required for erosion control. All removal work must conform to federal, state, and local environmental laws, including the Endangered Species Act and San Diego County regulations regarding grading, clearing, and watercourses.

Violations may be declared a public nuisance and abated under the Public Nuisance Abatement Procedure in Chapter 2 of Division 6 of Title 1 (commencing with Section 16.201).