Calaveras County, CA Property Maintenance: Weeds & Overgrown Grass (2026)

Unincorporated Calaveras County does not have a numeric weed-height or grass-length ordinance in its Health and Safety code (Title 8 contains property-maintenance, solid-waste, fire and life safety, and well-construction chapters, but no standalone weed-abatement chapter). The county's Code Compliance Unit states plainly in its FAQ that "Code Compliance does not enforce overgrown vegetation" and refers vegetation/fire-hazard concerns to the fire department. As a result, weed and brush control in this high-fire-risk Sierra foothill county is driven by wildfire defensible-space requirements administered by CAL FIRE and local fire protection districts under California law (Public Resources Code 4291 / Health and Safety Code defensible-space rules), not by a county grass-height rule. Vegetation that rises to junk/debris accumulation could still be addressed as a public nuisance under County Code 8.06.050. When residents clear vegetation by burning, they must follow the Calaveras County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) Open Burning Regulations: a valid burn permit from the APCO or designated agency is required (Rule 302), burning is prohibited on No-Burn Days (Rule 303), and the APCD's Hazard Reduction provision allows burning of vines, bushes, and tree waste produced by fire-safe clearing when done in compliance with state and local law to reduce a fire hazard. Residential rubbish burning (wood, leaves, lawn clippings, dry plants) is allowed only on the premises where the material originated.