Santa Cruz County, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

The County's weed regulation is fire-based rather than an agricultural noxious-weed program. The unincorporated County adopts the California Fire Code under Santa Cruz County Code Title 7, Chapter 7.92, and supports the State defensible-space guidelines. Under California Public Resources Code 4291, owners of structures in State Responsibility Areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones must maintain defensible space, which includes removing dead and dying weeds, grass, and brush within 100 feet of buildings (or to the property line if closer). The County's 'Living with Fire in Santa Cruz County' and 'General Guidelines for Creating Defensible Space' documents set the practical standards. Importantly, the County warns against over-clearing: clearing to bare soil can violate the Erosion Control Ordinance (16.22), and clearing weeds and vegetation around wetlands or riparian corridors can violate the Riparian (16.30) and Sensitive Habitat (16.32) ordinances. Owners must also keep landscapes free of invasive plants such as French broom, pampas grass, and thistle under County WELO landscaping guidance. CAL FIRE and the local fire districts conduct defensible-space inspections.