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

Proper brush management helps reduce wildfire risks in San Diego's Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Homeowners or responsible person(s) are responsible for creating and maintaining defensible space around all habitable structures on their property in the City's Very High Fire Severity Zones. NEW! As of February 28, 2026, all new structures in Very High Fire Severity Zones in San Diego must follow Zone 0 guidelines outlined in California Assembly Bill 3074 (AB 3074). Current home and property owners will need to take steps to meet Zone 0 by February 28, 2027. [...] California Civil Code 1102.19(a) established that, as of July 1, 2021, when you sell property that is located in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone you'll need documentation of a compliant Defensible Space Inspection (DSI) that complies with Section 4291 of the Public Resources Code or local vegetation management ordinances (SDMC 142.0412). [...] San Diego Municipal Code 44.0108 states: "No person shall place or deposit, or cause to be placed or deposited, any garbage, dead animals, or any animal or vegetable matter, or any putrid or decaying matter of any kind, at any place within the corporate limits of the said City of San Diego, without burying the same in trenches at least six feet deep and covering the same with no less than two feet of soil."