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

Santa Monica addresses lawn and grass maintenance through its nuisance and property maintenance standards under SMMC Chapter 4.08 rather than a specific maximum grass height. Overgrown grass or weeds that have become so tall or dense as to constitute a fire hazard, attract rodents or other vermin, or create a visual blight and public nuisance are subject to code enforcement action. Complaints trigger an inspection by the Code Enforcement Division, which issues a notice of violation with a compliance period, typically 30 days for initial violations.

Santa Monica is a recognized leader in water conservation and has robust programs encouraging residents to replace traditional turf lawns with drought-tolerant, California-native, or low-water-use landscaping. The city offers financial rebates through its sustainable landscape programs and has partnerships with the Metropolitan Water District. However, converting to drought-tolerant landscaping does not exempt a property from maintenance standards: excessive dead vegetation, invasive weed growth, or an unkempt appearance remains a potential code violation. Property owners are also responsible for maintaining the parkway strip between the sidewalk and the curb, including ensuring it does not become overgrown or create a tripping hazard. The City's Water Conservation Ordinance independently prohibits wasteful irrigation including allowing runoff onto sidewalks and watering during rain.