Santa Rosa, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Weed height limit
- 6 inches maximum on premises/exterior property
- Vertical clearance
- 8 ft over sidewalks, 13 ft over streets
- Abatement clock
- 24 hours once hazardous growth is flagged
- Enforcing agency
- Code enforcement; Fire Department under Ch. 9-08
- Governing section
- Santa Rosa City Code § 18-20.302.4.1
Summary
Santa Rosa's property maintenance code caps weed growth on any lot at six inches. Section 18-20.302.4.1 amends the International Property Maintenance Code to require that premises and exterior property stay free of weed growth over six inches, ban noxious weeds outright, and require overgrown, dead, or hazardous vegetation to be cleared within 24 hours of being flagged.
302.4. Weeds. Weed and rubbish abatement shall be as set forth in Santa Rosa City Code Title 9, Health and Safety, Chapter 9-08. Weeds and Rubbish. In addition, premises and exterior property must meet the requirements of Section 302.4.1. 302.4.1 Weeds. Premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weed growth in excess of six inches (6"). Noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants, and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs. Weeds shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens.
Full Breakdown
1: weed growth may not exceed six inches anywhere on a property's premises or exterior. The section defines 'weeds' broadly as grasses, annual plants, and other vegetation, excluding trees, shrubs, and cultivated flowers or gardens, so lawns, weedy planting strips, and untended yards are all covered, not just literal roadside brush. 1 gives code enforcement a 24-hour clock: trees, vegetation, or landscaping that is dead, decayed, diseased, dry, overgrown, uncultivated, or hazardous; likely to harbor vermin or rats; visibly blighted or neglected; a fire or health hazard; or that fails to keep 8 feet of vertical clearance over sidewalks and 13 feet over streets, or blocks street signage, or plants thorny vegetation next to a residential sidewalk, cannot be left in that condition for more than 24 consecutive hours once flagged. '
Violations & Fines
A weed violation exceeding the six-inch limit can be enforced either as a misdemeanor under Chapter 1-28 (up to $1,000 and six months in jail) or through an administrative citation under § 1-30.235, with the penalty amount set by Council resolution and due within 21 days; a late payment adds a 50 percent penalty within 30 days, rising to a maximum 100 percent surcharge. If the City abates a declared nuisance itself under Chapter 9-08, the Fire Department bills the property owner for its full abatement cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can weeds be on my property in Santa Rosa before it's a violation?
How much time do I get to clear overgrown or hazardous vegetation once cited?
Who enforces the weed ordinance, and can the City bill me for cleanup?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Rosa
How Santa Rosa compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Rosa to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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How other cities in Sonoma County handle weed ordinances.