Palo Alto, CA Property Maintenance: Weeds & Overgrown Grass (2026)

Weed and grass control in the unincorporated area is enforced through the County's Weed Abatement Program, run by the Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency and authorized by California Health and Safety Code sections 14875-14922. Under the Minimum Fire Safety Standards, flammable vegetation must not exceed 6 inches in height at any time after the compliance deadline, which for Milpitas and unincorporated County areas is April 1. Standards must be maintained until October 31 each year. Within 10 feet of all roadways, driveways, and access routes, grass, weeds, and brush must be kept below 6 inches, and roads and driveways must keep a 10-foot-wide by 13-foot-6-inch-high clearance. Structures need a minimum 30-foot clearance from flammable vegetation, and slopes may require up to 100 feet. Clearance and abatement requirements scale with parcel size. Stacked firewood and neatly piled yard waste are not treated as combustible debris. Tree branches must be at least 10 feet from chimneys and 6 feet above the ground, and roofs and gutters must be cleared of leaves and debris. This is a wildfire-fuel standard, not an aesthetic lawn rule, so a watered, short green lawn generally raises no issue. The 2026 fee schedule lists a $296 initial inspection fee, with higher fees for non-compliance.