San Benito County, CA Environmental Rules: Defensible Space (2026)
Key Facts
- Setback
- 30 ft, parcels 1 acre+
- Defensible space standard
- meets/exceeds Pub. Res. Code §4291
- Enforced by
- County Fire Code Official
- Applies to
- new construction, unincorporated county
Summary
New buildings on parcels one acre or larger in unincorporated San Benito County must sit back 30 feet from property lines, and defensible space must meet or exceed state fire clearance standards.
Q106.1 Setbacks. (FIRE 016). Except as permitted by the Fire Code Official, all parcels one acre and larger shall provide a minimum thirty (30) foot setback for new buildings and accessory buildings from all property lines and/or the center of the road. For parcels less than one-acre, alternate fuel modification standards or other requirements may be imposed by the Fire Code Official to provide the same practical effect.
(81) SECTION Q107 VEGETATION AND DEBRIS DISPOSAL. Q107.1 Disposition of vegetation and debris fuels. (FIRE 017). Disposal, including chipping, burying, or removal to a landfill site approved by the local jurisdiction, of vegetation and debris caused by site development and construction, road and driveway construction, and fuel modification shall be completed prior to final clearance of the related permit.
(82) SECTION Q108 GREENBELTS. Q108.1 Greenbelts. (FIRE 018). Subdivisions and other developments, which propose greenbelts as a part of the development plan, shall locate said greenbelts strategically as a separation between wild land fuels and structures. The locations shall be approved by the Fire Code Official.
(83) SECTION Q109 DEFENSIBLE SPACE.
(a) Q109.1 Standard defensible space requirements. (FIRE 019). Defensible space requirements shall meet Section 4291 of the Public Resources Code or the code, whichever is more restrictive. Additional or alternate fire
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-28: current through Ordinance 1078).
Full Breakdown
The county's local wildland-urban interface fire code amendments require new buildings and accessory buildings on parcels of one acre or larger to be set back at least 30 feet from all property lines or the road centerline, unless the Fire Code Official permits otherwise. Defensible space around new construction must meet Public Resources Code § 4291 or the county's own standard, whichever is stricter. The Fire Code Official can require added fire protection in environmentally sensitive areas. These amendments apply countywide to new construction outside the cities.
Violations & Fines
Building without the required 30-foot setback or defensible space clearance blocks final building permit clearance and can trigger a stop-work order from the Fire Code Official.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 30-foot setback apply to lots under one acre?
Can the setback be reduced?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Benito County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Benito County to another location·View the California environmental rules overview
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