San Clemente, CA Environmental Rules: Defensible Space (2026)

Chapter 15.13 of the San Clemente Municipal Code adopts the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, based on the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, as the city's defensible space and fire-spread ordinance for property built near wildland areas. Section 15.13.010 states the code governs fire spread, accessibility, defensible space and water supply on premises constructed near wildland areas, and a copy is kept on file for public review in the Building Division. The city adopted the current edition by Ordinance No. 1796, effective November 4, 2025.

Section 15.13.020 makes two local amendments. First, it deletes Exceptions 1 and 2 from Section 501.1 of the state code, removing carve-outs that would otherwise let some buildings in the wildfire risk area skip parts of the ignition-resistant construction standard. Second, it adds a new requirement, 602.4, mandating that every new building proposed in a wildfire risk area have a fuel modification plan reviewed and approved by the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), meeting the criteria in OCFA Guideline C-05, the "Vegetation Management Guideline-Technical Design for New Construction Fuel Modification Plans and Maintenance Program." The ordinance also picks among the model code's appendices: Appendices A through D, H and I are not adopted, Appendix E is deleted outright, and Appendices F and G are adopted as amended by the State Fire Marshal.

Because the fuel modification plan is a condition of the building permit, a property owner cannot pull permits for new construction in a designated wildfire risk area until OCFA signs off on the vegetation clearance plan.