Indio, CA Environmental Rules: Defensible Space (2026)
Key Facts
- Clearance required
- 100 feet from structures
- Zone 0
- 0-5 ft, near-noncombustible
- Retrofit window
- Two to four years
- Governing section
- § 93A.01(K) / WUI § 604
Summary
Indio mandates a 100-foot defensible-space clearance around buildings in wildfire hazard zones, split into three graduated zones (0, 1, and 2) with distinct vegetation rules.
604.1 General. Vegetation and fuels shall be managed to reduce the severity of potential exterior wildfire exposure to buildings and to reduce the risk of fire spreading to buildings as required by applicable laws and regulations. ... 604.8 Defensible Space clearance zones and requirements. The required 100-foot Defensible Space clearance is identified in three (3) distinct zones: Zone 0, 1, and 2.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4796010; v13 updated 2026-02-04; through 02-04-2026).
Full Breakdown
Indio Municipal Code § 93A.01(K), adopting WUI Code §§ 604.1 and 604.8, requires vegetation and fuels around buildings to be managed to reduce wildfire exposure and fire spread, with a required 100-foot Defensible Space clearance broken into three zones: Zone 0 (0-5 feet, near-noncombustible), Zone 1 (5-30 feet, limited fire-resistant plantings), and Zone 2 (30-100 feet, reduced fuel loading). Under § 604.3.1, the Fire Code Official can require existing properties to retrofit into compliance, including thinning or removing plants, trees, and vegetation, over a two-to-four-year window.
Violations & Fines
Failing to maintain the required defensible-space zones violates § 93A.01 and is enforceable under WUI Code § 109.3.7, with penalties tied to Health & Safety Code §§ 17995-17995.5 and Government Code § 51185.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much defensible space does Indio require around a home?
Do existing homes have to retrofit for defensible space?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Indio
California rules heatmap·Compare Indio to another location·View the California environmental rules overview
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