Newport Beach, CA Property Maintenance: Weeds & Overgrown Grass (2026)

Orange County does not publish a single uniform grass-height number; instead, weeds and dry vegetation are regulated as fire and nuisance hazards. Section 3-13-3(d) of the Codified Ordinances declares the presence of weeds growing on any parkway, sidewalk, or private property a public nuisance, and Sec. 3-13-3(f)(1) declares any dry/dead shrub, tree, or growing material that constitutes a fire hazard a nuisance. 'Weeds' are defined (Sec. 3-13-2) as plant material that is noxious or dangerous and/or dry grass, stubble, brush, or other flammable material that creates a fire hazard. The County's annual Weed Abatement Program (OC Public Works / Agricultural Commissioner) operates under California Health & Safety Code Sections 14875 through 14922. Per the County's Notice to Destroy Weeds, owners are expected to maintain property hazard-free year-round; dry weeds, brush, or neglected vegetation within 100 to 200 feet from a home or other structure, or within 10 feet of a road, are considered a hazard. Owners must remove vegetation, litter, and other flammable material (including dead palm fronds), remove any tree portion within 10 feet of a roof/chimney/stovepipe outlet, and dispose of cleared material at an approved landfill or green-waste facility. Open burning is prohibited by South Coast AQMD.