SAN DIEGO COUNTY REGULATORY ORDINANCES
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SEC. 68.401. FINDINGS
SEC. 68.402. DEFINITIONS
SEC. 68.403. ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITY/APPLICABILITY
SEC. 68.404. PROHIBITIONS/ CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS
SEC. 68.405. PUBLIC NUISANCE
SEC. 68.406. REMOVAL OF PROHIBITED MATERIALS
If you wish to file a complaint about a property you believe has a fire hazard you must first file the complaint with your local fire agency or district. For non-service areas, please contact the California Department of Forestry (CDF).
The County has a cooperative fire hazard removal program with certain fire agencies who have adopted the County's ordinance for Removal of Combustible Vegetation and Other Flammable materials. The fire agency makes the determination that a fire hazard exists and issues a Legal Notice and Order to Remove Fire Hazards. If a property owner fails to remove the fire hazard the fire agency makes formal request to the County for additional enforcement. DPLU Code Enforcement will then initiate a summary abatement of the fire hazard and all costs incurred in that abatement would be recoverable from the property owner.
If you have received a Legal Notice and Order to Remove Fire Hazards, your initial contact must be with the enforcement officer and fire district listed on the form.
The accumulation of combustible vegetation, dead, dying or diseased trees, green waste, rubbish, and other materials on private property creates a condition that is a fire hazard and potentially injurious to the health, safety, and general welfare of the public. The presence of such combustible vegetation, dead, dying or diseased trees, green waste, rubbish, and other materials on parcels constitutes a public nuisance which may be abated by the County. All costs for the abatement will be reimbursed to the County by the property owner.
DEFRNDEFENSIBLE SPACE
During the October 2003 Firestorms, it was painfully evident that there was insufficient "Defensible Space" on many properties which contributed to destroyed homes and other structures. As a result, the County of San Diego has amended an ordinance that requires residents to keep their property free of fire hazards: including certain vegetation types, green waste and rubbish. Residents can comply with this ordinance by creating a "Defensible Space" around their homes and by taking other preventative steps on their property. You can find out more by reading the County’s brochure "Fire, Defensible Space and You".
WHAT IS DEFENSIBLE SPACE?
Defensible Space is the area around a structure where combustible vegetation that can spread fire has been cleared, reduced or replaced. This space acts as a barrier between a structure and an advancing fire.
HOW LARGE SHOULD THE DEFENSIBLE SPACE BE?
You need to clear combustible vegetation in a 100-foot radius from any structure. Your local fire agency may require you to clear additional vegetation by a written letter. You are not required to cross your property line in order to clear the 100 feet. The neighboring property owner may be required to clear the additional distance by the fire agency.
HOW DO I MAINTAIN THE DEFENSIBLE SPACE?
You may plant fire-resistant, irrigated landscaping in the first 50 feet of the 100 feet from your structure. These plants need to be maintained all year around. NOTE: No irrigated or non-native landscaping is allowed within an open space easement.
You need to keep natural vegetation in the remaining 50 feet of the 100 foot space. This would be the area furthest away from your structure. The plants need to be thinned and cut back to no more than 6 inches above the ground.
You may need to do this several times a year since the plants grow back.
Do not completely remove all vegetation which would leave the ground bare. Some vegetation is necessary to prevent erosion. When native vegetation is removed for fire control the bare soil is particularly vulnerable to soil erosion.
Do not remove or disturb the existing plant root system to prevent any future erosion.
Remove dead and dying vegetation.
Trim trees that overhang or touch your structures.
Properly irrigating plants will help prevent plants from igniting. Wildfires rarely occur until after June, because as little as 1 inch of water per month keeps drought adapted plants from readily burning. Permanent irrigation should be confined to landscaping within the first 50 feet of a structure.
Trees and shrubs can be maintained by deep watering at least once a month for drought tolerant species and once a week for high water requiring plants.
HOW DO I CLEAR LEGALLY?
Combustible vegetation can only be removed by mowing, cutting and grazing as long as the root structure is left intact. Any trees you remove shall have the stumps cut no higher than 8” above the ground. The only exception would be an orchard. Orchard trees may have their stumps completely removed.
CAN I CLEAR INTO OPEN SPACE?
If an open space easement is located on your property you may legally clear the 100 feet from your structure, even if it takes you into that easement, upon written authorization of your fire protection district. No irrigated or non-native landscaping is allowed within an open space easement.
WHAT IS COMBUSTIBLE VEGETATION?
Combustible vegetation is any material that left in its natural state will readily ignite, burn and cause fire to move to any structure or other vegetation. This would include dry grass, brush, weeds, litter and waste. This would not include fire resistant landscaping.
WHAT OTHER THINGS SHOULD I DO TO PROTECT MY PROPERTY AGAINST FIRE?
Vary the height of plants and adequately space them. Taller plants need to be spaced wider apart.
Existing trees and large shrubs should be pruned by cutting off any branches up to 6 feet above the ground to prevent ground fires from spreading upwards into trees.
For fire truck access, remove vegetation within 10 feet of each side of your driveway.
Remove any tree limbs within 10 feet of your chimney.
Work with your neighbors to clear common areas between houses, and prune areas of heavy vegetation that are a fire threat to both properties.
Avoid planting trees under or near electrical lines. They may grow into or make contact with overhead lines. Under windy conditions these instances may cause a fire.
If you have a heavily wooded area on your property, removing dead, weak or diseased trees may improve growing conditions. This will leave you with a healthy mixture of both new and older trees.
Any removed trees may be chipped and left on your property if they don’t present a fire hazard. Contact your local fire agency to find out how to do this.
Don’t forget to legally dispose of all your cut vegetation. You may contact your local landfill to inquire about green waste recycling. Open burning may not be allowed. Contact your fire agency for more information.
Stack firewood and scrap wood piles at least 50 feet from any structure and clear away any combustible vegetation within 10 feet of the piles. Many homes have “survived” as a fire moved past it, only to burn later from a wood pile that caught fire after the firefighters had moved on to protect other homes.
Check and clean your roofs and gutters on all structures several times during the spring, summer and fall to remove debris that can easily ignite from a spark.
REMOVAL OF FIRE HAZARDS COMPLAINT PROCEDURE
