Code Enforcement

Weed Abatement Notice

The City of Riverside Code Enforcement conducts semi-annual weed and waste inspections throughout the City. The purpose of these inspections is to ensure that property owners maintain their properties free of nuisances as required by the Riverside Municipal Code (RMC). “Nuisance” means a condition of property that constitutes blight, a public health hazard, or a public safety hazard and is considered a violation of the City’s Municipal Code.

Click here to see a list of weed abatement contractors.

Property Owner Responsibilities:

Weeding the Subject Property by mowing, discing, and performing any necessary handwork along fence lines, sidewalks, parkways, driveways streets, or structures Cleaning the Subject Property of all Green Waste and Solid Waste.

Non-Compliance Abatement Notice

Notice will be given if one or more of the following violations exist on the Subject Property (including without limitation):

• Green Waste: overgrown, dead, or decaying vegetation, tall green grass, and weeds
• Solid Waste: trash, debris, junk, concrete, asphalt, construction materials, furniture, scrap metal, scrap lumber, machinery, appliance(s), inoperable vehicle(s), equipment, or any portion, piece, or part thereof). [RMC 6.15.020] Property Owner will be given ten (10) calendar days to complete the abatement.

Right to Appeal Notice

If the Subject Property is in violation, you may appeal the NOTICE in writing to the Code Enforcement Division no later than ten (10) calendar days from the NOTICE Date. Failure to timely file an appeal shall result in your waiving any and all appeal rights provided by the RMC.

Failure to Comply

Violation(s) not abated by Compliance Deadline Date, the City of Riverside will abate the violation(s) and assess all costs against the Subject Property by either an invoice for service or with a lien (the charges for abatement work, bill per square-foot, and an applicable administrative fee will be added to the Subject Property’s tax bill). A Notice of Pendency may be filed with Riverside County Recorder against the Subject Property’s title.

Failure to Abate

Failure to abate the violation(s) by the Compliance Deadline Date or properly appeal the NOTICE shall be deemed your denial of consent for entry onto the property by the City or its agents to abate the violation(s) for purposes of obtaining an abatement warrant. Note: Re-growth of seasonal or recurrent vegetation such as weeds and grasses due to intermittent or late rains may result in a need for multiple weedings of the Subject Property. Such upkeep should be done on a year-round basis. If you have any questions please call us at (951) 826-2386.

UNIMPROVED PROPERTIES (VACANT LOTS)

1. All weeds, tall grass, and any and all trash and debris shall be cleared from the property, it’s perimeter and any adjacent parkway or unimproved portion of a public right-of-way.
2. If the property is disced, the following requirements shall be followed:
   • All weeds and grass shall be disced to where they are place under the soil surface. If necessary, a property may need to be disced more than once to abate the weeds.
   • In the event a large amount of dust is created by the discing operation, the property owner will be responsible for taking appropriate steps to keep to a minimum the amount of fugitive dust produced by the discing operation.
   • The property shall be edged with all weeds and grass being removed from its perimeter.
3. If the property is mowed or the weeds cut by hand (either with handtools, handmowers, weed eaters, ect.) all tall grass and weeds shall be cut to within one (1) inch of the finished soil surface. All cuttings shall be raked an properly disposed of.
4. All trees shall be skirted to a distance of six (6) feet from the ground.
5. All firebreaks shall be a minimum of one hundred (100) feet, except in instances of rock outcropping, extreme grade or other natural obstacles. No cross discing is allowed.

IMPROVED PROPERTIES

1. In addition to the standards noted above (except for items 4 and 50 for unimproved properties, the yard portions of the property visible from the public right-of-way shall be maintained to where the property’s appearance is in compliance with the City’s landscaping requirements as noted in Chapter 6.14.020 of the Riverside Municipal Code and does not detract from the appearance of the neighborhood.
2. Properties with hillsides where no fire retardant vegetation has been planted will require no less than a thirty (30) foot firebreak where they border other improved properties or where the hillside borders the improved portion of their property (i.e., yard area).

   For further clarification for additional information, please call (951) 826-2386