Monterey Park, CA Environmental Rules: Defensible Space (2026)

Section 17.02.070's amendment to California Fire Code Section 304.1.3 puts the defensible-space duty on 'any person that owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains any building or structure' on mountainous, forest-covered, brush-covered or grass-covered land, or any land covered with flammable material. The base requirement is a firebreak of not less than 30 feet on each side of the structure, or to the property line if that is closer, cleared of all flammable vegetation or other combustible growth. The section carves out an exception for single specimen trees, ornamental shrubbery, or similar plants kept as ground cover, so long as they do not form a path for fire to spread from native growth to a building.

Where the enforcing agency finds that a 30-foot firebreak alone will not provide reasonable fire safety because of extra hazardous conditions, it can require additional clearance out to 100 feet from the structure or to the property line, whichever is nearer. Grass and other vegetation beyond the 30-foot mark that stays under 18 inches in height may be left in place if it is needed to stabilize soil and prevent erosion. The fire chief or fire code official administers both the hazard designation and the clearance order, and the requirement layers on top of, rather than replaces, the general citywide duty to cut ignitable weeds and grass under the same section.