Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 12, March 22, 2024
Defensible space is required to be maintained at all
times, whenever flammable vegetative conditions exist. One hundred feet (100
ft.) of defensible space clearance shall be maintained in two distinct "Zones"
as follows: "Zone 1" extends thirty feet (30 ft.) out from each "Building or
Structure," or to the property line, whichever comes first; "Zone 2" extends
from thirty feet (30 ft.) to one hundred feet (100 ft.) from each "Building or
Structure," but not beyond the property line. The vegetation treatment
requirements for Zone 1 are more restrictive than for Zone 2, as provided in
(a) and (b) below. The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's "Property
Inspection Guide, 2000 version, April 2000," provides additional guidance on
vegetation treatment within Zone 1 and Zone 2, but is not mandatory and is not
intended as a substitute for these regulations.
(a) Zone 1 Requirements:
(1) Remove all dead or dying grass, plants,
shrubs, trees, branches, leaves, weeds, and pine needles from the Zone whether
such vegetation occurs in yard areas around the "Building or Structure," on the
roof or rain gutters of the "Building or Structure," or any other location
within the Zone.
(2) Remove dead
tree or shrub branches that overhang roofs, below or adjacent to windows, or
which are adjacent to wall surfaces, and keep all branches a minimum of ten
feet (10 ft.) away from chimney and stovepipe outlets.
(3) Relocate exposed firewood piles outside
of Zone 1 unless they are completely covered in a fire resistant
material.
(4) Remove flammable
vegetation and items that could catch fire which are adjacent to or under
combustible decks, balconies and stairs.
(b) Zone 2 Requirements:
(1) In this zone create horizontal and
vertical spacing among shrubs and trees using the "Fuel Separation" method, the
"Continuous Tree Canopy" method or a combination of both to achieve defensible
space clearance requirements. Further guidance regarding these methods is
contained in the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection's, "General
Guidelines for Creating Defensible Space, February 8, 2006," incorporated
herein by reference, and the "Property Inspection Guide" referenced elsewhere
in this regulation.
(2) In both the
Fuel Separation and Continuous Tree Canopy methods the following standards
apply:
(A) Dead and dying woody surface fuels
and aerial fuels shall be removed. Loose surface litter, normally consisting of
fallen leaves or needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches, shall be
permitted to a maximum depth of three inches (3 in.).
(B) Cut annual grasses and forbs down to a
maximum height of four inches (4 in.).
(C) All exposed wood piles must have a
minimum of ten feet (10 ft.) of clearance, down to bare mineral soil, in all
directions.
(c)
For both Zones 1 and 2:
(1) "Outbuildings"
and Liquid Propane Gas (LPG) storage tanks shall have the following minimum
clearance: ten feet (10 ft.) of clearance to bare mineral soil and no flammable
vegetation for an additional ten feet (10 ft.) around their exterior.
(2) Protect water quality. Do not clear
vegetation to bare mineral soil and avoid the use of heavy equipment in and
around streams and seasonal drainages. Vegetation removal can cause soil
erosion, especially on steep slopes. Keep soil disturbance to a minimum on
steep slopes.
1. New
section filed 3-6-2013; operative 7-1-2013. Provisions derived from repealed
section 1299, subsections (a), (b) and (d)
(Register 2013, No. 10).
2. New subsection (b)(2)(A) filed
8-19-2013; operative 10-1-2013 (Register 2013, No. 34).
3. Change
without regulatory effect amending first paragraph and subsection (b)(1) filed
3-27-2018 pursuant to section
100, title 1, California Code of
Regulations (Register 2018, No. 13).
Note: Authority cited: Sections
4290
and
4291,
Public Resources Code. Reference: Section
4291,
Public Resources Code; and Sections
18908
and
18917,
Health and Safety Code.
