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

Weed and grass control in unincorporated Santa Barbara County is enforced as a fire-hazard standard rather than as a numeric grass-height ordinance. County Fire Code Section 304.1.2 (Vegetation) states that 'when determined to be a fire hazard, weeds, grass, vines or other growth that is capable of being ignited and endangering property, shall be cut down and removed by the owner or occupant of the premises,' and that vegetation clearance in urban-wildland interface areas shall comply with Fire Code Chapter 49. In Chapter 49, 'combustible materials' are defined to include 'weeds, stubble, brush, rubbish, litter, dry grass, dry leaves or other flammable materials that are readily ignitable and endanger the public safety.' Section 4907 (Defensible Space) requires hazardous-vegetation and fuel management for buildings in State Responsibility Areas, Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and the County's designated High Fire Hazard Area, consistent with Public Resources Code Section 4291. The County Fire Hazard Abatement program (Section 4911) lets the fire chief serve a written order to abate weeds and vegetative growth declared a hazard within not less than ten days; Section 4911.4 also authorizes requiring clearance within 10 feet on each side of fire-apparatus access roads and driveways. If the owner fails to act, the County can abate and recover costs as a special assessment and lien (Sections 4911.15-4911.17). Cities such as Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Santa Maria run their own weed-abatement programs.