Redlands, CA Environmental Rules: Defensible Space (2026)

6, "Defensible Space Zones," to the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code under Ordinance 2998. All existing habitable buildings and structures within the High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone must maintain defensible space across three concentric rings, and the fire code official may require additional fuel modification when extreme hazardous vegetation conditions exist. Zone Zero, from the structure out to 5 feet, is the ember-resistant zone: shrubs must be thinned to no more than 50 percent density, dead or diseased vegetation removed, grass kept to a maximum of 4 inches, organic wood chips and mulch are prohibited in favor of concrete, gravel, or decomposed granite, firewood cannot be stored there, chimneys need spark arrestors with branches at least 10 feet away, and vegetation must be cleared 10 feet from propane tanks.

Zone One, from 5 to 30 feet, is the "lean, clean and green" zone, applying the same 50-percent shrub density and 4-inch grass limits with six feet of tree-branch clearance above roofs and structures, but allowing mulch up to 3 inches deep. Zone Two, from 30 to 100 feet, is the fuel reduction zone, relaxing the vegetation density limit to 60 percent and the grass height limit to 18 inches while keeping the same tree clearance and propane tank rules. Across all three zones, trees must be cleaned, thinned, and raised, dead or diseased trees removed (with a licensed arborist evaluation the fire code official can require), and firefighter access to all sides of the structure kept clear of hazardous items.