Yolo County, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- County Grass-Height Limit
- None specified in County Code
- State Defensible Space
- 100 ft (CA PRC Sec. 4291)
- Zone 0 (Ember Resistant)
- 0-5 ft from structure
- Zone 1 (Lean & Green)
- 5-30 ft from structure
- Zone 2 (Reduced Fuel)
- 30-100 ft from structure
- PRC 4291 Penalty
- $100-$500 + misdemeanor
Summary
Unincorporated Yolo County does not impose a specific lawn or grass height limit in the County Code. Overgrown vegetation can still be abated as a public nuisance under Title 6, and on parcels in or adjoining wildland fuel, California Public Resources Code Sec. 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures, with intensified fuel reduction within 5-30 feet.
A person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains a building or structure in, upon, or adjoining a mountainous area, forest-covered lands, brush-covered lands, grass-covered lands, or land that is covered with flammable material, shall at all times do all of the following: (1) Maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure, but not beyond the property line ... The amount of fuel modification necessary shall take into account the flammability of the structure as affected by building material, building standards, location, and type of vegetation. Fuels shall be maintained in a condition so that a wildfire burning under average weather conditions would be unlikely to ignite the structure.
Full Breakdown
, '12 inches') for a residential lawn. Overgrowth issues are addressed indirectly through nuisance abatement and statewide fire-safety law. California Public Resources Code Sec. ' Within that perimeter, the intensity of fuel modification varies: an ember-resistant zone is required within 5 feet of the structure (Zone 0), with more intense fuel reductions between 5 and 30 feet (Zone 1), and reduced-fuel maintenance from 30 to 100 feet (Zone 2). Greater distances can be required by local ordinance. The Yolo County Resource Conservation District also coordinates a Yolo County Weed Management Area focused on noxious-weed (yellow star thistle, perennial pepperweed) abatement on agricultural and conservation lands, but this is a cooperative incentive program, not a height-based ordinance applicable to homeowners. Within incorporated cities (Davis, Woodland, West Sacramento, Winters), city-level weed/grass nuisance rules apply instead - the County Code does not govern incorporated parcels.
Violations & Fines
Failure to maintain PRC 4291 defensible space in a State Responsibility Area is a misdemeanor punishable by fine of $100-$500 (first offense), with potential criminal liability for fires that spread from the property. Cal Fire and the Yolo County Fire Chief's office may issue notices of non-compliance. Overgrowth that creates an actual hazard (harboring vermin, blocking sight lines at intersections, or constituting a fire hazard) can be abated under Yolo County's public-nuisance procedures, with abatement costs assessed against the property under California Government Code Sec. 25845.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a maximum height my lawn can grow before the County cites me?
What does PRC 4291 require around my house?
Who enforces PRC 4291 in unincorporated Yolo County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yolo County
How Yolo County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·California rules heatmap·Compare Yolo County to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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