Santa Ana Weed Ordinances Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Weed control in Santa Ana operates through two complementary enforcement systems: the city's year-round property maintenance code under Municipal Code Chapter 10, and the annual weed abatement program administered by the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA). Both systems ensure that weeds, dead vegetation, and combustible plant materials do not accumulate on private property to the point where they create fire hazards, harbor vermin, or degrade neighborhood conditions.

The OCFA annual weed abatement program is the primary mechanism for seasonal vegetation control in Santa Ana. Each spring, OCFA inspects properties throughout its service area — which includes Santa Ana — and issues notices to property owners where excessive weed growth, dry grass, brush, or dead vegetation poses a fire hazard. These notices specify a compliance deadline, typically in late May or June, by which the property must be cleared. The clearance standard requires that all weeds be cut to a maximum height of approximately 3 inches and that all cuttings, dead vegetation, and combustible debris be removed from the property entirely. Properties that are not cleared by the deadline are placed on a list for forced abatement by OCFA-contracted crews.

When OCFA performs forced abatement, the costs — including contractor fees, inspection costs, and administrative overhead — are assessed against the property. If the owner does not pay the abatement invoice directly, the charges are placed as a special assessment on the property's annual property tax bill. These assessments accrue interest and penalties if not paid with the regular tax installment. For larger parcels and vacant lots, forced abatement costs can exceed $2,000.

Separately from the annual OCFA program, Santa Ana's Code Enforcement Division enforces weed control year-round under the city's property maintenance ordinance. Weeds that reach excessive height at any time of year, or weeds of any height that create a hazardous, unsightly, or unsanitary condition, may be cited as a public nuisance. This dual enforcement approach means that Santa Ana property owners face weed-related scrutiny from both city and county fire authority agencies throughout the entire year.

Santa Ana's dense urban environment and warm climate create conditions where weed growth can be rapid, especially on vacant lots, in neglected side yards, and along unmaintained rear property lines. The city's ongoing neighborhood improvement efforts make weed and vegetation control a high-priority enforcement area. Contact Santa Ana Code Enforcement at (714) 647-5600 or OCFA at (714) 573-6000 with questions about weed abatement requirements.