Vacaville, CA Environmental Rules: Defensible Space (2026)
Key Facts
- Buffer width
- 50 feet noncombustible defensible space
- Trigger distance
- Within 200 feet of open space lands
- Minimum fire access road
- 20 feet wide, all-weather
- Applies to
- New residential development only
- Waiver authority
- Fire Chief, sole discretion
Summary
New residential development within 200 feet of open space lands where wildfire is a threat must provide a 50-foot noncombustible defensible-space buffer between residential yards and the open land, under Vacaville's local wildfire development standards chapter.
§ 15.20.273.040. Fire Buffer Zone. There shall be a total of 50 feet of noncombustible defensible space located between residential yards that are adjacent to open lands where wildfire is a threat. A. This space may be located within the parcel, outside the parcel, or a combination of both. B. Subject to the review and approval of the Fire Chief, the 50-foot fire buffer zone may include a combination of a fire access road; fire protection greenbelt; firebreak; or single loaded streets as those improvements are defined in this chapter.
Full Breakdown
273 applies to new residential development sited on parcels within 200 feet of permanent open lands, including moderate and non-rated CalFire Fire Hazard Severity Zones; properties in a High or Very High severity zone must separately comply with the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code. 040 sets the core buffer requirement: a total of 50 feet of noncombustible defensible space between residential yards and adjacent open lands where wildfire is a threat. That 50 feet can sit inside the parcel, outside it, or a combination of both, and with Fire Chief approval it may be made up of a fire access road, a fire protection greenbelt, a firebreak, or single-loaded streets, each separately defined in the chapter.
050 requires a minimum 20-foot-wide all-weather fire access road around the site perimeter when the Fire Chief requires one, graded, compacted, and kept clear of flammable vegetation. 090 allows the 50-foot buffer to be reduced by the width of a concrete v-ditch as long as the fire access road itself stays at a minimum 20 feet, illustrated with a worked example of a 20-foot road, 4-foot v-ditch, and 26-foot greenbelt. 020.
Violations & Fines
Compliance with the 50-foot buffer and its component improvements is enforced through the City's development review and conditions-of-approval process for new residential projects; where improvements sit on public property, the developer must form a lighting and landscape maintenance district (or similar funding mechanism) and record a disclosure statement barring future owners from protesting its formation, so the City bears no ongoing maintenance cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 50-foot buffer have to sit entirely on my property?
Which properties does Vacaville's 50-foot buffer rule apply to?
Can the required fire access road be narrower than 20 feet if there's a drainage ditch?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Vacaville
California rules heatmap·Compare Vacaville to another location·View the California environmental rules overview
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