Palm Springs enforces California's 100-foot defensible space requirement under PRC §4291, with particular focus on Chino Canyon and San Jacinto foothill properties.
California Public Resources Code Section 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in State Responsibility Areas and Local Responsibility Areas designated as wildfire-prone. Zone 0 (0-5 feet) must be non-combustible (no mulch, stored wood, or plants against siding). Zone 1 (5-30 feet) requires lean, clean, and green vegetation with spacing between shrubs and trees. Zone 2 (30-100 feet) requires reduced fuel loads with spaced vegetation and removal of dead material. Palm Springs enforces PRC §4291 through Riverside County Fire inspections, particularly in Chino Canyon, Araby, Andreas Hills, and other foothill neighborhoods bordering the San Jacinto wilderness. Non-compliance triggers abatement notices; the city can perform clearance and lien the costs. Insurance companies increasingly require documentation of compliance for wildfire-zone policies.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Palm Springs code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Riverside County.
See how other cities in Riverside County handle brush clearance.
See how Palm Springs's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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