Redondo Beach homeowners now have clearer rules about what they can grow in their yards, after the City Council voted 5-0 on Wednesday, July 22, to approve a new hedge ordinance that closes gaps in the municipal code.

The biggest change: anonymous complaints from people who don't live nearby can no longer trigger enforcement. Under the new rules, only a "bona fide complaint" from an adjacent or nearby resident will prompt code officers to act on a potential violation.

The ordinance keeps existing height limits in place. Front-yard hedges cannot exceed 42 inches (3.5 feet). Side and rear hedges max out at six feet. But for the first time, the city's code now actually defines what a hedge is.

"One of the things we're trying to cure with this update is the definition of a hedge," City Manager Mike Witzansky said at the July 22 meeting. "We may not be taking action on certain properties because we're viewing it in our current definition as a tree, not a hedge."

The overhaul began after anonymous complaints in late 2025 led to city letters threatening penalties against homeowners. Those complaints didn't come from nearby neighbors. Residents converged on City Hall, and the council asked City Attorney Joy Ford's office to review the rules. Ford's team found the municipal code defined "tree" but never defined "hedge," making consistent enforcement nearly impossible.

Councilmen Zein Obagi Jr. and Scott Behrendt jointly proposed the new ordinance. Behrendt said at the meeting he believes the bona fide complaint requirement will resolve the issue that sparked the controversy.

The city retains authority to enforce hedge limits on its own, without waiting for a neighbor's complaint. Witzansky said the ordinance establishes objective standards so police department code officers can act on visible violations independently. The ordinance also requires hedges be kept "neat and orderly."

Sightlines for drivers and emergency responders remain the primary reason the city regulates hedge height, as Easy Reader News reported. Some taller hedges will still be evaluated case by case. Witzansky noted that an eight-foot hedge might be acceptable in one location but problematic in another, depending on roof heights and proximity to other buildings.

The ordinance, whose exact effective date has not been announced, also standardizes penalties. Under the old code, enforcement differed depending on whether a violation involved height alone or posed a public nuisance such as a fire hazard or sidewalk obstruction.

Residents with questions can contact Redondo Beach City Hall.