PRC 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in San Bernardino County fire zones. Zone 0 is ember-resistant, Zone 1 is lean/clean/green, Zone 2 is reduced fuel.
California Public Resources Code 4291 requires property owners in State Responsibility Area and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones to maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures. San Bernardino County enforces this through CAL FIRE and the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District. Zone 0 (0-5 feet from structure) must be an ember-resistant buffer with no combustible mulch, plants, wood piles, or combustible fencing. Zone 1 (5-30 feet) must be lean, clean, and green: grass under 4 inches, tree canopies 10 feet apart, no ladder fuels, and all dead vegetation removed. Zone 2 (30-100 feet) requires reduced fuel with grass under 4 inches, horizontal spacing between shrubs (2x shrub height on flat land, more on slopes), and vertical spacing between trees and shrubs (3x shrub height minimum). Annual inspections are conducted between May and October, with Notices of Violation giving 30 days to comply. Additional hazardous fire areas may require clearing beyond 100 feet based on slope and fuel density.
First violation citations start at 100 dollars; second within 12 months is 250 dollars; third and subsequent are 500 dollars. If the property owner does not abate, the county or CAL FIRE may perform forced abatement and charge the costs plus a 25 percent administrative fee as a lien on the property.
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