San Benito County, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Hollister-area county islands/pockets/edges only
- Adopted by
- Ordinance 857 (2010)
- Enforced by
- county Code Enforcement Officer
- Cost liability
- owner pays all abatement costs
Summary
Unincorporated county land in and near the City of Hollister's borders must be kept free of weeds, grass, and rank growth that create a fire hazard or public-health menace.
No owner or occupant of any parcel within the unincorporated area of San Benito County that is located entirely within the territorial boundaries of the City of Hollister ("county islands"), or partially within the territorial boundaries of the City of Hollister ("county pockets"), or along certain urbanized edges of the City of Hollister, as depicted in the map attached to Ordinance 857 and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit A, shall cause, permit, suffer, or maintain upon that parcel any fire hazard, or vegetation otherwise noxious or dangerous, in a condition of growth constituting a menace to public health, or any other violation of this chapter. (Ord. 857, § 2 (part), 2010) **** ARTICLE III. ENFORCEMENT AND COSTS ****
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-28: current through Ordinance 1078).
Full Breakdown
The San Benito County Weed Abatement Ordinance in Chapter 19.37 applies to unincorporated parcels that sit entirely within Hollister's boundaries as county islands, partially within them as county pockets, or along mapped urbanized edges of the city -- not the whole unincorporated county. Owners and occupants may not cause or maintain a fire hazard from weeds, grass, or rank growth, or noxious vegetation such as poison oak and poison ivy that menaces public health. If an owner does not voluntarily abate, the county's enforcing officer can administratively abate the nuisance, or County Counsel can bring a civil action, and the responsible party is billed for all abatement and administrative costs.
Violations & Fines
Fire-hazard or noxious vegetation left on the property is a public nuisance abatable by the county or by court order; the owner or occupant is liable for all abatement, investigation, and administrative costs incurred.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the county weed ordinance cover my whole unincorporated property?
What happens if I don't clear weeds after notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Benito County
How San Benito County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare San Benito County to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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