Benton County, OR Environmental Rules: Defensible Space (2026)

020(17), fixes the size of the required clearing: a "fire break" means a minimum area of 30 feet around a dwelling cleared of vegetation, except for ornamental shrubbery, sod, single trees or similar ground cover, arranged to prevent rapid movement of a fire. On slopes greater than 30%, that minimum widens to 50 feet. 405(1), the operative siting standard, puts the duty on the property owner: the owner of any new structure must maintain a primary and secondary fuel-free fire-break surrounding the structure, on land the owner owns or controls, following the "Recommended Fire Siting Standards for Dwellings and Structures and Fire Safety Design Standards for Roads," the Oregon Department of Forestry document dated March 1, 1991 that the County incorporates by reference.

405, including fire-resistant roofing and an emergency water supply plan, and it applies at the time a new structure is sited and approved, not only when a wildfire threat is imminent. 405 opens by requiring compliance with BCC Chapter 99's general development standards as well, a fire break has to coexist with whatever setback the structure's zone and lot otherwise require.