Brush Clearing & Weed Abatement Services
Annual fire hazard abatement compliance per San Bernardino County Code 23.0301. Avoid 30-day notices, citation fees, and forced abatement at premium rates.
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Overview
What Is Weed Abatement?
Last updated: May 8, 2026
Regulatory information on this page is provided for general guidance and may not reflect the most current requirements. Always verify specific deadlines, fees, and compliance procedures with CAL FIRE (fire.ca.gov), San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, or your local fire authority before making compliance decisions.
Weed abatement is the annual mandatory work required by San Bernardino County Code 23.0301–23.0319 to remove combustible vegetation from your property before fire season. It is enforced through the County's Fire Hazard Abatement Program, with notices typically issued each spring.
Compliance generally requires cutting weeds and grasses to 4 inches or less, removing tumbleweeds and Russian thistle, clearing combustible debris, and removing brush piles and tree trimmings. Failure to comply leads to forced abatement performed by the County's contractor at premium rates, an administrative fee, and potential lien placement against the property.
Read our guide on resolving San Bernardino County abatement notices →
Triggers
When do you need brush clearing and weed abatement?
Notices are typically issued April–May. Get scheduled early — demand peaks just before deadlines.
Received written notice from San Bernardino County or your city? You usually have 30 days before forced abatement begins.
Get the work done before the official June 1 fire-season start, when grasses are still green and easier to manage.
Wet winters create dense fuel loads. Many properties need more aggressive abatement after high-rainfall years.
Scope
What's included in brush clearing and weed abatement?
- Weed and grass cutting to 4 inches or less
- Brush and chaparral removal in required zones
- Tumbleweed and Russian thistle removal
- Combustible debris and dead vegetation clearing
- Hauling and legal disposal of all cuttings
- Compliance documentation for the County file
- Re-inspection support if a notice was issued
Pricing
How much does brush clearing and weed abatement cost in San Bernardino County?
Brush clearing and weed abatement is generally the most accessible price point in wildfire defense services. Smaller residential lots typically fall in the lower hundreds. Larger properties or vacant lots with heavy growth scale up accordingly. Annual maintenance contracts are often available at preferred rates compared to per-job pricing.
| Scope Tier | Property Description | Cost Range | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Weed Abatement | Small lot, residential | Lower hundreds | Half day – 1 day |
| Standard Lot Clearing | Mid-sized residential | $500 – $1,500 | 1–2 days |
| Large Lot or Acreage | Larger properties | $1,500 – $4,000+ | 2–4 days |
| Tractor Disking (Acreage) | Vacant parcels over 1 acre | Varies by acreage | Variable |
Ranges reflect industry-standard estimates. Pricing scales with growth density, slope, and disposal volume.
Process
How does the brush clearing and weed abatement process work?
Call or submit the form. A vetted local contractor reaches out to understand your property, your timeline, and any active notices.
A licensed contractor walks the property, documents compliance gaps against CAL FIRE and County code, and provides a written estimate at no cost.
Crews complete the scoped work — clearing, hardening, hauling — to meet PRC 4291 and San Bernardino County Code 23.0301–23.0319 requirements.
You receive written documentation suitable for CAL FIRE reinspection, County abatement files, and California insurance carrier renewals.
Service Areas
Which San Bernardino County cities do you serve?
Yucaipa, CA
ZIP 92399
[YUCAIPA SHORT BLURB GOES HERE]
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Mentone, CA
ZIP 92359
[MENTONE SHORT BLURB GOES HERE]
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Forest Falls, CA
ZIP 92339
[FOREST FALLS SHORT BLURB GOES HERE]
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Calimesa, CA
ZIP 92320
[CALIMESA SHORT BLURB GOES HERE]
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Highland, CA
ZIP 92346
Foothill neighborhoods at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains — East Highlands Ranch and the Greenspot corridor face direct VHFHSZ exposure.
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Redlands, CA
ZIP 92373
North Redlands and the Redlands Heights extend into chaparral foothills with Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone designations.
View Redlands
San Bernardino, CA
ZIP 92407
North foothill neighborhoods — Verdemont, Arrowhead Suburban, and the areas above Highway 30 — concentrated foothill fire risk.
View San Bernardino
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
ZIP 91737
Alta Loma and north Rancho Cucamonga sit at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains in significant Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
View Rancho Cucamonga
Chino Hills, CA
ZIP 91709
Built across rolling chaparral hillsides — much of Chino Hills sits in VHFHSZ with extensive wildland-urban interface.
View Chino HillsFAQ
Brush Clearing & Weed Abatement FAQs
The County's Fire Hazard Abatement Program typically issues notices each spring as grasses cure. Specific dates vary by area, but most homeowners see notices between April and June. Once issued, you typically have 30 days to comply before forced abatement is scheduled.
San Bernardino County Code 23.0301 generally requires that weeds and grasses on improved parcels be cut to 4 inches or less. The cut height is measured from the soil surface, and the requirement applies across the entire required clearance zone.
Weed abatement (County Code 23.0301) is annual cutting of weeds and combustible debris. Defensible space (PRC 4291) is the broader 100-foot program including ladder fuel reduction, tree spacing, and Zone 0 work. Properties in VHFHSZs typically need both.
After the 30-day window, the County contracts forced abatement at premium rates, charges an administrative fee, and can place a lien on the property if unpaid. Repeat non-compliance can also generate referrals for additional citations.
Yes — vetted contractors include hauling and legal disposal in their abatement scope. Leaving cut material on site can itself violate the County code as combustible debris.
Not necessarily — homeowners can self-abate. But many homeowners use a contractor for the documentation, the disposal, and to avoid having to re-do work that fails inspection.
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