San Diego County, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Unincorporated San Diego County enforces strong defensible-space rules through the Defensible Space for Fire Protection Ordinance (San Diego County Code, Chapter 4 of Division 8 of Title 6, Secs. 68.401-68.406, adopted by Ordinance No. 10147). Under Sec. 68.404(a), no responsible party may permit accumulation of combustible vegetation, dead/dying/diseased trees, green waste, rubbish, or other flammable materials within 100 feet of the exterior perimeter of any improvement; the Fire Warden may reduce this to no less than 30 feet, or require up to property line where the parcel is smaller. Sec. 68.404(b) requires clearance within 30 feet of property lines where accumulation endangers a neighbor's defensible space, and Sec. 68.404(c) requires clearing within 10 feet of each side of the improved width of roads and driveways. In high-risk areas (such as the MSCP Subarea), the Fire Warden may require up to 2 to 5 acres of additional clearance (Sec. 68.404(d)). Approved removal methods (Sec. 68.406) leave root structure intact to prevent erosion, keep weeds and grasses under 6 inches, and cut tree stumps no higher than 8 inches. The ordinance applies in unincorporated territory outside fire/water districts (administered by the Fire Warden), or within districts that have adopted it. This implements California Public Resources Code section 4291, the statewide 100-foot defensible-space requirement.