Whittier, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- WMC § 8.24.010, Unsafe Conditions
- Notice period
- 10 days to remove after posted notice
- Appeal window
- 10 days to city council (§ 8.24.040)
- Enforcing agency
- Director of Public Works
- Owner duty
- Covers lot plus abutting right-of-way (§ 8.24.007)
Summary
Whittier does not set a numeric weed-height limit; section 8.24.010 of the Municipal Code instead bans letting weeds, rubbish or other material accumulate on any lot, occupied or vacant, if the growth creates a fire hazard, shelters rats or vermin, produces irritating pollen, or otherwise endangers neighboring property. Any lot in that condition is declared a public nuisance, and the director of public works can order it cleaned under Chapter 8.24's weed abatement procedure.
No person, whether the same be the owner, agent or person in control of any inhabited or uninhabited lot, piece or parcel of land within the city, shall maintain such premises or allow the same to be maintained in a condition in which weeds, rubbish or any materials exist on said premises, which constitute a fire hazard or which may provide a refuge for rats or other vermin, or may produce pollen which is injurious to the health, safety or welfare of residents of the vicinity, or which otherwise is dangerous or injurious to neighboring property or the health or welfare of residents of the vicinity. The existence of any condition prohibited by this section is declared to be a public nuisance.
Full Breakdown
08's general nuisance rules to police overgrown or littered lots. 007 makes every lot owner responsible for keeping the public right-of-way abutting their property, other than the paved portion used for parking or traffic, free of weeds, rubbish or other material that could become a fire hazard or vermin refuge. 010 extends that duty to the lot itself, covering inhabited and uninhabited parcels alike, and any violation is declared a public nuisance outright, with no separate finding required. 030 spells out the notice's form: it must be posted in a conspicuous place, headed "NOTICE TO CLEAN PREMISES" in letters at least one inch tall, and it gives the owner ten days to clear the weeds, rubbish, refuse or dirt before the city removes it and assesses the cost as a lien on the property.
Notice can also be served personally or mailed to the address on the last equalized county assessment roll. 050 lets the director of public works enter the property and remove it. 070.
Violations & Fines
Failing to clear weeds or rubbish after a posted ten-day notice lets the city remove the material itself and bill the property owner; unpaid charges become a lien collected with the property taxes under section 8.24.060. Because section 8.24.010 independently declares the condition a public nuisance, an owner can also be cited for a code violation under the general penalty chapter, risking a misdemeanor fine up to $500 or an infraction fine starting at $100 for a first offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a maximum height for weeds on my Whittier property?
What happens if I ignore the weed abatement notice?
Am I responsible for weeds on the parkway strip next to my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Whittier
How Whittier compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Whittier to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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