San Luis Obispo County, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

County Code Title 16 (Fire Prevention) includes Chapter 16.30, the Abatement of Fire Hazardous Weeds and Rubbish in County Service Area No. 10 - Cayucos, recently amended by Ordinance 3545 to broaden county-wide enforcement authority. Property owners and persons in possession must abate hazardous vegetation or combustible material within thirty days of notice, and the Fire Code Official is authorized 'to enter real property and summarily abate any public nuisance determined to constitute an immediate threat to public health or safety without prior notice or hearing.' Abatement costs may be made a special assessment, added to the county assessment roll, and become a lien on the property under Health and Safety Code Sec. 14875 et seq. Throughout the rest of the unincorporated county, CAL FIRE / SLO County Fire enforces California Public Resources Code Sec. 4291 (defensible space) and the Health and Safety Code weed abatement framework. The County Department of Agriculture / Weights and Measures operates a separate Noxious Weed Management Program targeting state-listed pests (e.g., yellow starthistle, perennial pepperweed) under California Food and Agricultural Code Sec. 5000 et seq.