Fontana, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Portions of Fontana north of Sierra Avenue and along the San Gabriel Mountain foothills lie within or directly adjacent to State Responsibility Area and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones mapped by CAL FIRE. On those parcels, California Public Resources Code 4291 and Government Code 51182 require property owners to create and maintain 100 feet of defensible space around any habitable structure: a 30-foot Zone 1 of intensively maintained landscaping free of dry vegetation and tree litter, and a 30-to-100-foot Zone 2 of reduced fuel with trimmed shrubs and spaced trees. Under AB 3074, the first 5 feet around a structure (Zone 0) should be kept ember-resistant - no combustible mulch, wood fencing attaching directly to the house, or stored wood. Throughout the rest of the city, Fontana Municipal Code weed abatement provisions require every parcel to be kept free of dry grass, weeds, rubbish, and combustible debris that create a fire hazard. The Fontana Code Enforcement Division, working with SBCoFD, conducts an annual weed inspection program beginning in late April. Owners receive a notice to abate; if the property is not cleared within the deadline (typically 30 days), the city hires a contractor to clear the lot and records the cost as a special assessment lien on the property tax bill, often exceeding 500 dollars plus administrative fees. Repeat offenders face escalating fines and potential misdemeanor charges.