Burbank Grass Height Limits Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Burbank's municipal code requires all landscaping on private property to be properly maintained, but does not codify a specific maximum grass height in inches the way some cities do. The standard applied by Code Enforcement is whether vegetation has become dead, overgrown, or neglected to the point of creating a nuisance condition — an unsightly appearance that diminishes neighboring property values or harbors vermin. Complaints about overgrown front yards are investigated by Building and Safety Division Code Enforcement, while weed complaints related to public right-of-way or fire hazard vegetation are routed to Public Works. In either case, property owners receive a notice of violation with a compliance period to remedy the condition.

Burbank actively promotes drought-tolerant landscaping and has participated in Metropolitan Water District turf replacement rebate programs. Homeowners may replace traditional lawns with drought-tolerant ground cover, native plants, decomposed granite, or mulch, provided that no more than 45% of the front yard and street-facing side yard is covered by impervious hardscape such as concrete and pavers. Properties in designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) — which include portions of the Verdugo Mountains hillside neighborhoods — must comply with California Public Resources Code Section 4291, requiring a Zone 1 clearance of 30 feet around structures and a Zone 2 modified fuel zone from 30 to 100 feet. Violations of defensible space requirements in VHFHSZ areas can result in mandatory abatement orders from the Burbank Fire Department. Free mulch is available to Burbank residents by calling (818) 238-5304.