San Diego, CA Property Maintenance: Weeds & Overgrown Grass (2026)

There is no County ordinance setting a maximum lawn height for appearance; the County's Code Compliance page lists 'overgrown lawns, trees, shrubs' among matters it does NOT investigate. Weeds and grass are instead regulated for fire safety under the Defensible Space for Fire Protection Ordinance (County Code Sec. 68.401-68.406). 'Combustible vegetation' is defined (Sec. 68.402(a)) to include 'dry grass, brush, weeds, litter or other flammable vegetation that creates a fire hazard.' Sec. 68.404(a) prohibits any responsible party from permitting combustible vegetation to accumulate within 100 feet of the exterior of any improvement (the Fire Warden may reduce this to as little as 30 feet, or require additional clearance up to several acres on larger parcels). Sec. 68.404(b) requires clearance within 30 feet of a property line where it endangers a neighbor's structure, and Sec. 68.404(c) requires clearing within 10 feet of each side of roads and driveways. When prohibited materials are removed, Sec. 68.406 specifies that 'the height of weeds and annual grasses shall not exceed a height of six inches,' tree stumps must be cut no higher than 8 inches, and on-site chipped material may not exceed 6 inches in depth. This ordinance applies in unincorporated territory outside fire-protection districts; many districts adopt it by reference and enforce it themselves.