Yucaipa, CA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Section 8.16.030 of the Yucaipa Municipal Code sets minimum maintenance standards for residences in the City of Yucaipa, San Bernardino County. It applies to any person owning, renting, occupying or having charge of a single-family residence or a two unit, three unit or four unit residence, so a tenant carries the same duty as the owner. The first exterior requirement says the property shall be free of overgrown or dead vegetation, including but not limited to weeds, trees or limbs. The code defines weeds to include sage brush, dry grass, and any other brush or vegetation that attains extensive growth and may become a fire menace when dry. The section prints no inch-based height cap; the test is whether growth is overgrown, dead or a fire menace.

Properties with five or more units, and commercial, industrial and institutional lots, fall under § 8.16.040, which uses nearly identical wording and adds seedlings to the list of weeds. Separately, § 8.20.040 puts a duty on every owner, occupant and person in control of any land in the city to abate noxious weeds, dry grass and Russian thistle (tumbleweeds) from the lot and from adjacent sidewalks, parkways and the untraveled portions of public roads. That chapter adopts the San Bernardino County refuse abatement code, and its notices state that the weed abatement program is conducted by the county on behalf of the city.

Enforcement runs through the community development director. The notice must detail the violations and set an abatement period of not less than ten (10) days. An owner who clears the lot within that period tells the community development department, and a representative inspects to confirm. If the lot is not cleared, a hearing follows, the director can order abatement, and the City can do the work itself and recover its costs.