Tuolumne County Weed Ordinances Rules (2026) — What You Need to Know

Chapter 8.14 of the Tuolumne County Code establishes the Hazardous Vegetation Management program, which goes beyond state defensible space requirements. While California PRC 4291 requires defensible space around structures, Chapter 8.14 extends vegetation maintenance duties to undeveloped and vacant parcels adjacent to roads, driveways, and road easements.

This is significant in Tuolumne County, where over 7,000 vacant and undeveloped properties fall under these requirements. The county's location in the Sierra Nevada foothills means wildfire is a constant threat, and unmaintained vegetation along roads can act as a fire corridor.

Section 8.14.060 establishes the duty to remove and abate hazardous vegetation. For developed properties, this means maintaining the standard defensible space zones: grass cut to 4 inches maximum in Zone 2 (30–100 feet from structures), dead vegetation removed from Zone 1 (5–30 feet), and an ember-resistant Zone 0 (0–5 feet). For vacant lots, vegetation must be maintained along road frontages to prevent fire spread.

The county Fire Chief and designees serve as enforcement officials. Property owners receive notice and an opportunity to correct violations. If vegetation is not cleared, the county can perform abatement and recover costs through a property lien or special assessment.