Vacant parcels in unincorporated San Diego County must keep combustible vegetation cleared under the Defensible Space Ordinance and must not be used for illegal dumping. The County Code makes it unlawful to deposit discarded materials on private property, and weeds/dry grass that create a fire hazard are a public nuisance.
The County does not regulate the appearance of empty lots, but it strongly regulates two conditions: fire hazard and illegal dumping. Under the Defensible Space for Fire Protection Ordinance (County Code Sec. 68.401-68.406, Ordinance No. 10147), the accumulation of combustible vegetation, dead/dying/diseased trees, green waste, and rubbish on a parcel is declared a public nuisance. A 'parcel' is defined as any contiguous land in the unincorporated area (Sec. 68.402(i)), so vacant lots are covered. Where vegetation endangers improvements on neighboring property, the Fire Warden may require clearance within 30 feet of the property line (Sec. 68.404(b)) and declare a public nuisance under Sec. 68.405, abating it via the County's Public Nuisance Abatement Procedure (commencing at Sec. 16.201). Removed weeds and annual grasses must be cut so they do not exceed 6 inches in height (Sec. 68.406). Separately, the Solid Waste Ordinance Sec. 68.503 makes it unlawful for any person to deposit or bury discarded materials on the right-of-way or on private property except in a designated container, addressing illegal dumping on vacant land. Code Compliance investigates trash and debris storage on private parcels, while waste dumped along a road is referred to Public Works.
Fire-hazard vegetation may be abated by the Fire Warden as a public nuisance, with abatement costs charged to the owner. Illegal dumping under Sec. 68.503 and trash storage violations draw escalating administrative citations ($100 to $1,000, up to $10,000 per violation per year), and egregious cases can trigger civil penalties up to $1,000 per day.
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