Alameda County, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

The Alameda County Fire Department Weed Abatement Program operates under California Government Code sections 39560-39588 and local ordinance. Each spring, the county mails a Notice to Abate Nuisance to parcels with prior violations or in high-risk zones, listing the required work and compliance deadline, typically in late May or early June. Required work generally includes cutting annual weeds and grass to 4 inches or less, removing dead brush and tumbleweeds, clearing combustible debris, and maintaining 100 feet of defensible space around structures in VHFHSZ per PRC 4291. Inspectors re-check after the deadline; non-compliant parcels are referred to county contractors who perform the work at the owner expense plus a 100 percent administrative fee. Unpaid abatement costs become a lien on the property tax bill. Appeals of findings or charges go before the Board of Supervisors at a public hearing.