Owners of vacant parcels in Berkeley must keep lots free of weeds, trash, and fire hazards and secure any structures, with annual weed abatement enforced before fire season.
Berkeley's Community Preservation Ordinance (BMC 14.48) and Fire Department hazardous-vegetation rules require vacant-lot owners to maintain their property in a safe, clean condition. In the high fire-hazard hillside zones, the Berkeley Fire Department conducts an annual weed abatement inspection each spring, requiring owners to clear grass, brush, and dead vegetation to reduce wildfire fuel. Failure to comply allows the City to abate and bill the owner. Vacant structures must be secured against entry, with plywood or equivalent boarding installed per code, and owners must register vacant buildings in certain circumstances. Trash, illegal dumping, and encampments on vacant lots must be removed promptly. Fencing may be required to prevent unauthorized access.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Berkeley, CA
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Berkeley, CA
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Berkeley, CA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle vacant lot maintenance.
See how Berkeley's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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