Irvine, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Irvine Municipal Code § 5-9-409(B)(vi) (CFC § 325)
- Clearance width
- 10 ft each side of roadway
- Measured from
- flow-line or improved roadway edge
- Exempt vegetation
- single trees, ornamental shrubs, ground covers
- Enforcing agency
- Orange County Fire Authority
Summary
Irvine's fire code official can order flammable vegetation cleared for 10 feet on each side of any street or private road used for vehicular traffic. The rule exempts single ornamental trees, shrubs, and cultivated ground covers like ivy or succulents that don't readily carry fire.
325 Clearance of brush or vegetation growth from roadways. The fire code official is authorized to cause areas within 10 feet (3048 mm) on each side of portions of highways and private streets which are improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic, to be cleared of flammable vegetation and other combustible growth. Measurement shall be from the flow-line or the end of the improved edge of the roadway surfaces. Exception: Single specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery or cultivated ground cover such as green grass, ivy, succulents or similar plants used as ground covers, provided that they do not form a means of readily transmitting fire.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20 | Zoning: Supplement 16).
Full Breakdown
Municipal Code Section 5-9-409(B)(vi), adopted by Ordinance No. 9 and Fire Code Section 324, which apply to buildings adjoining hazardous vegetation rather than to roadside growth; Section 325 instead targets the vegetation corridor along any street, private drive, or fire access lane that vehicles use, giving OCFA a tool to keep sightlines and fire access clear regardless of whether new construction is involved.
Violations & Fines
OCFA enforces roadway clearance orders issued under Section 325 through Section 5-9-305: a property owner who fails to clear the 10-foot corridor after notice faces penalties under OCFA's Prevention Field Services fee schedule, with each day of continuing non-compliance a separate offense. Ignoring a direct abatement order can also be charged as a misdemeanor under Section 113.4.2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can OCFA make me clear brush along a road on my Irvine property?
Are ornamental trees or ground cover exempt from the roadway clearance rule?
Is the roadway brush clearance rule the same as Irvine's new-construction fuel modification requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Irvine
California rules heatmap·Compare Irvine to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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Brush Clearance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle brush clearance.