Properties in fire hazard zones must maintain 100 ft of defensible space per CA PRC 4291. Burbank Fire Department enforces brush clearance in hillside areas near the Verdugo Mountains. Zone 1 (0-30 ft) requires lean/clean/green landscaping; Zone 2 (30-100 ft) requires fuel reduction.
The Burbank Fire Department's annual Fire Hazard Reduction Program requires property owners in fire hazard areas to maintain defensible space year-round. Weeds and grasses must be trimmed to 3 inches or less. Trees taller than 18 feet must be trimmed so all foliage is at least 5 feet above a roof and 10 feet from chimneys or stovepipes. Native shrubs must be trimmed to clear the ground by at least one-third their height, maintained below 216 cubic feet, and spaced at least 3 times their diameter but not less than 18 feet apart. Mountain Fire Zones and fuel modification zones have additional requirements. ADUs in Mountain Fire Zones must comply with brush clearance.
Non-compliance with brush clearance requirements may result in severe fines enforced by the Burbank Fire Department. The city may perform abatement and bill the property owner.
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See how other cities in Los Angeles County handle brush clearance.
See how Burbank's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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