Moorpark Weed Ordinances Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Moorpark's weed control framework rests on two primary enforcement mechanisms. The first is the city's public nuisance code, rooted in Municipal Code Chapter 8.36, which classifies weeds that are dry, overgrown, likely to harbor vermin, or capable of spreading fire as public nuisances requiring abatement. The Code Enforcement Division sends annual weed abatement notices citywide each spring — generally before May 1 — directing all property owners to clear dry vegetation, cut dead weeds, and bring their lots into fire-safe condition before the official start of fire season. Property owners who receive a Notice of Violation and fail to comply within the stated deadline may face forced abatement: the city may contract with a third-party abatement company, and the full cost of the work plus an administrative overhead fee is charged to the property owner. Unpaid abatement bills are recorded as liens against the parcel and may ultimately be collected through the county property tax roll.

The second and typically more demanding set of weed abatement requirements applies to Moorpark properties in High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones — particularly in hillside tracts near Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park, the Tierra Rejada corridor, and open-space preserves along the city's northern and eastern edges. Ventura County Fire Department Defensible Space standards require that within Zone 1 (0 to 30 feet from any structure, deck, or attached fence), all dead weeds, dry annual grasses, and accumulated plant litter be completely cleared from the ground surface — not just mowed, but raked and removed to eliminate surface fuel continuity. Zone 2 (30 to 100 feet) requires that weeds be cut, chipped, or disced to reduce the volume of fine fuels. Weeds along fence lines, driveway edges, and outbuilding perimeters within these zones are specifically included in the clearance obligation. VCFD conducts annual defensible space inspections between approximately April and September and issues administrative citations to property owners who fail to comply.

A third layer of weed regulation comes from the Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner, which enforces the California Food and Agricultural Code's mandatory noxious weed eradication provisions. Landowners throughout Ventura County — including within Moorpark city limits — are legally obligated to control and eradicate state-listed noxious weed species including yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca), giant reed (Arundo donax), and others. The Agricultural Commissioner can require landowners to eradicate these species and may arrange for forced removal at the owner's cost if the landowner fails to act. Moorpark property owners near Arroyo Simi, Happy Camp Canyon, or the Tierra Rejada open space corridor should be especially attentive to invasive weed obligations, as listed species spread readily from private land into adjacent waterways and public preserves, potentially triggering mandatory eradication orders.