Brush Clearance: Phoenix vs Tempe
How do brush clearance rules compare between Phoenix, AZ and Tempe, AZ?
Phoenix has fewer restrictions than Tempe.
Phoenix, AZ
Maricopa County
Phoenix does not have a mandatory defensible space or brush clearance ordinance. The city's low-desert urban environment presents minimal wildfire risk. The Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance (Chapter 39) requires properties to be free of dead vegetation and fire hazards. The Phoenix Fire Department conducts fire prevention activities but does not mandate specific brush clearance distances.
View full Phoenix rules →Tempe, AZ
Maricopa County
Tempe's fire prevention code (Chapter 14) requires property owners to maintain vegetation and remove fire hazards. The city adopted the International Fire Code. Dry brush, dead vegetation, and accumulated debris must be cleared. Tempe's urban setting reduces wildfire risk, but the Sonoran Desert climate creates seasonal fire hazards from dried vegetation during the pre-monsoon dry season (April-June).
View full Tempe rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Phoenix | Tempe |
|---|---|---|
| Mandate | No mandatory brush clearance | - |
| Climate | Low desert, minimal wildfire risk | - |
| Property Maintenance | Dead vegetation must be removed | - |
| Code | Chapter 39 Neighborhood Preservation | - |
| City Code | - | Chapter 14 (Fire Prevention and Protection) |
| Fire Code | - | International Fire Code as adopted |
| Dry Season | - | April-June highest fire risk |
| Common Hazard | - | Dead palm fronds, dried native vegetation |
| Enforcement | - | Tempe Fire Department and Code Compliance |
| Mutual Aid | - | Maricopa County mutual aid system |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Phoenix FAQ
Does Phoenix require defensible space around homes?
No. Phoenix does not have a mandatory brush clearance or defensible space ordinance. The Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance does require removal of dead vegetation and fire hazards from properties.
When does Phoenix inspect properties for brush-clearance compliance?
Phoenix typically conducts annual pre-fire-season inspections (May through July in arid regions), with follow-up inspections after warnings. Properties failing to abate hazards may be cleared by city contractors with the cost billed as a property lien.
Tempe FAQ
Do I need to clear brush around my Tempe home?
Yes. Property owners must remove dead vegetation, dried brush, and combustible debris. Dead palm fronds are a common fire hazard that should be removed.
When is the highest fire risk in Tempe?
The pre-monsoon dry season (April-June) is the highest fire risk period. Vegetation dries out and becomes combustible.
Who enforces vegetation clearance?
The Tempe Fire Department and Code Compliance enforce fire prevention and vegetation management requirements.
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