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Lake County, CA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Vegetation removal zone
30 feet from structures/road frontage
Grass height limit near structures
under 6 inches within 10 feet
Tree pruning clearance
6 feet above grade within 10 feet
Compliance deadline
30 business days from notice
Appeal window
15 calendar days from postmark
Enforcing agency
Lake County Fire Official
First-violation fine
up to $100/day

Summary

Unimproved parcels in unincorporated Lake County must be cleared of flammable and dead vegetation within 30 feet of any neighboring structure or roadway frontage, with grass trimmed below six inches within 10 feet of a structure, under County Code Section 13-60.3, enforced by the County Fire Official.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Lake County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

60.3 Unimproved Parcels. 3.1 The duty to abate hazardous vegetation and/or combustible materials on unimproved parcels includes, but is not limited to the following: a. Removal of flammable vegetation and other combustible growth within thirty (30) feet of neighboring structures and roadway frontage. b. Removal of dead and dying vegetation within thirty (30) feet of neighboring structures and roadway frontage. c. Trimming of grass and combustible surface vegetation within ten (10) feet of neighboring structures and roadway frontage must be trimmed to less than six (6) inches in height unless necessary for erosion control. d. Pruning of all trees within ten (10) feet of neighboring structures and roadway frontage to at least six (6) feet above grade.

Full Breakdown

8 defines an unimproved parcel as any real property, regardless of size, on which no structure is located. 3, the duty to abate hazardous vegetation on an unimproved parcel requires removing flammable vegetation and combustible growth within thirty feet of neighboring structures and roadway frontage, removing dead and dying vegetation in that same thirty-foot zone, trimming grass and combustible surface vegetation within ten feet of neighboring structures or road frontage to less than six inches in height unless it is needed for erosion control, and pruning trees within ten feet of neighboring structures or frontage to at least six feet above grade.

5 exempts a commercial agricultural crop actively grown and managed by the property owner or tenant from the definition of hazardous vegetation. As with improved parcels, the County Fire Official may require additional defensible space out to one hundred feet based on slope, fuel load, and fuel type, and may authorize alternatives to disking or mowing where terrain makes standard clearing impractical. The County Fire Official may also summarily abate an immediate threat to public health or safety without prior notice or hearing under Health and Safety Code Section 14930 and Government Code Section 25845.

Separately, Chapter 13's general nuisance definition in Section 13-3(e)(7) already treats the accumulation of weeds and rubbish on any real property, improved or not, as a nuisance subject to abatement.

Violations & Fines

Fines escalate the same way as for improved parcels: up to $100 per day for a first violation, $200 per day for a second within a year, and $500 per day for further repeats, plus chargeable as an infraction or misdemeanor under Section 13-44. If the County abates the lot itself after a missed 30-business-day deadline, the owner is billed for all administrative, labor, and material costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the grass height limit on a vacant lot in Lake County?
Within 10 feet of a neighboring structure or roadway frontage, grass and combustible surface vegetation must be trimmed to less than six inches, per Section 13-60.3(c), unless the growth is being kept for erosion control.
Who enforces weed abatement on unimproved lots in Lake County?
The County Fire Official issues the notice of violation and order to abate, giving 30 business days to comply. Owners can request a hearing before the Board of Supervisors within 15 calendar days of the postmark to appeal.
Can Lake County abate an unmowed vacant lot without notice?
Yes, in an emergency. The Fire Official may summarily abate an immediate threat to public health or safety under Health and Safety Code Section 14930 and Government Code Section 25845 without prior notice or hearing.
Are farm fields exempt from Lake County's vacant-lot weed rules?
Yes. Section 13-59.5 excludes a commercial agricultural crop that is actively grown and managed by the property owner or legal tenant from the definition of hazardous vegetation subject to abatement.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Lake County

All Lake County rules

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