Woodland, CA Environmental Rules: Defensible Space (2026)

Municipal Code Section 8.20.040(D)(9), part of the Fire Code's Section 324, requires a minimum 5-foot defensible space maintained around the entire perimeter of any manufactured home or tiny home used as a primary residence in Woodland. Within that 5-foot band the code bars combustible vegetation, stored materials, open flame sources, and any structure or enclosure that would obstruct fire access to the home. A related clearance rule at Section 8.20.040(D)(6) separately requires the same homes to keep combustible ground coverings such as bark, mulch or straw out of the immediate perimeter, to keep dry vegetation and refuse cleared, and to separate any wood fence from the building with noncombustible material or an offset.

Because Section 324 applies to every new manufactured or tiny home placed, built, installed or relocated in Woodland as a primary residence, and also to an existing unit that is relocated, newly connected to utilities, or that undergoes a change of occupancy, the defensible space duty follows the home rather than attaching only at initial construction. The Fire Department, through the Division of Community Risk Reduction under the Fire Marshal, enforces the clearance requirement at plan review, final inspection, and any later compliance inspection, and can require removal of vegetation, stored material or an obstructing structure found within the 5-foot zone.