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

Lake County's increased fire danger runs each year from May 15 to November 1. The County's weed-and-brush rules (Chapter 5, Article I, Sec. 5-6E.2) require a firebreak within 30 feet of any structure, cleared of all brush and grass; single specimen trees and ground-cover plants that don't carry fire are excepted, and the fire chief may extend clearance from 30 up to 100 feet in extra-hazardous conditions. Grass more than 30 feet from a structure must be kept under 18 inches where it stabilizes soil. Vines within 20 feet of a combustible building or fence must be cut and removed. Separately, the hazardous-vegetation ordinance (recodified, formerly Chapter 13) declares all hazardous vegetation and combustible material in the unincorporated county a public nuisance and requires improved parcels to keep a 30-foot defensible space around buildings, 10-foot clearance from frontage roads, roofs cleared of leaves/needles, and trees pruned 10 feet from chimneys. Complaints go to the local Fire District or Community Development; after a site visit and mailed notice, uncleared weeds are cut and the owner is charged.