Menifee, CA Environmental Rules: Defensible Space (2026)

The City adopted the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code by Ordinance 2025-425, effective November 19, 2025, and designated moderate, high and very high Fire Hazard Severity Zones under Section 8.21.070 following the State Fire Marshal's recommendations. Section 8.21.110 amends Sections 604.1 and 604.3 of that code to require vegetation and fuels around every building to be managed under Public Resources Code Section 4291, Government Code Section 51182, and the state defensible space regulations at 14 CCR Section 1299.03 and 19 CCR Section 3.07. A newly added Section 604.6 declares that any improved parcel found to be a public nuisance must be cleared entirely of combustible material, and Section 604.7.1 sets the baseline structural firebreak at 100 feet, removable only where the Fire Code Official finds a single specimen tree or well-pruned ornamental landscaping does not transmit fire.

Section 604.3.1 gives property owners with an existing, non-conforming defensible space or fuel modification zone a two- to four-year retrofit window once the Fire Code Official notifies them, and lets an owner submit a compliance plan for review. Enforcement runs through Section 8.21.050, which replaces Section 109.3.7 of the state code: violating any provision of the ordinance or a permit issued under it is unlawful, with punishment set under the Menifee Municipal Code, Health and Safety Code Sections 17995 through 17995.5, and Government Code Section 51185. Section 8.21.040(B) additionally lets the Fire Department bill a violator directly for the City's inspection, enforcement, investigation, and emergency-response costs as a collectible debt.