San Gabriel council directs staff to draft ordinance removing hedge height limits after safety, maintenance discussion

The San Gabriel City Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance removing hedge height limits citywide after council members and public-safety chiefs discussed trade-offs between aesthetics, homeowner choice and emergency access.

Councilmembers and staff framed the issue as distinct from fence and wall regulations, which the council agreed should remain at the existing 4-foot front-yard and 6-foot side/rear limits. Acting Community Development Director Samantha Tuasarc told the council the city’s municipal code currently treats hedges like fences and walls (Municipal Code section 153.127) but does not define height limits for hedges or shrubs in the public right of way.

The discussion focused on public-safety and maintenance concerns. Police Chief Elizalde warned that high hedges that “restrict a full view of the house” can create hiding places for burglars and that landscaping at intersections can impede drivers’ line of sight. Fire Chief Steve Wallace cited wildfire lessons from other jurisdictions, saying ornamental and flammable vegetation close to structures “accelerated the destruction” in previous large fires and that eliminating fuels around a home “gives that house that much better of a survivability profile,” while noting homeowners bear some choice about planting.

Several council members said hedges are living features that grow and require frequent trimming, which makes strict height enforcement difficult. Vice Mayor Menchaca argued the city should prioritize public education and maintenance enforcement already in the code rather than ongoing, citywide hedge-height inspections; Tuasarc and staff agreed a complaint-driven process exists under the nuisance and maintenance provisions (Municipal Code chapter 98, section 98.02).

After debate, councilmembers signaled consensus to remove a numerical height limit on hedges and asked staff to return with an ordinance that separates hedge rules from those that govern fences and walls. Council members asked staff to include clear maintenance guidance, public-education measures, and an explanation of enforcement practices when the ordinance is brought back. The council expects staff to present the ordinance, conduct a brief public hearing and return the final ordinance for a second reading on the consent calendar.

The council did not adopt a final ordinance at the meeting; the action is a direction to staff to draft and return with a formal ordinance and proposed implementing language.

Ending with less urgent details, councilmembers also asked staff to gather statistics about recent code-enforcement cases related to hedges and to consider language that can be enforced via neighbor complaints or nuisance procedures rather than continuous city inspections.