Riverside, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)
Key Facts
- Defensible space (FHSZ parcels)
- 100 ft per PRC §4291
- Zone 1 (0-30 ft)
- Lean, clean & green
- Zone 2 (30-100 ft)
- Reduced fuel
- City enforcement
- Code Enforcement Division
- County enforcement
- Hazard Reduction Office (951) 943-0640
- County authority
- Riverside Co. Ord. 695 & 787
Summary
Property owners in Riverside must clear weeds, dry grass, and flammable vegetation throughout the year. Parcels in or near a Fire Hazard Severity Zone are subject to California Public Resources Code §4291's 100-foot defensible space requirement.
(a) A person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains a building or structure in the state responsibility area shall at all times do all of the following: (1) (A) Maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure, but not beyond the property line, except as provided in subparagraph (B). The amount of fuel modification necessary shall consider the flammability of the structure as affected by building material, building standards, location, and type of vegetation. Fuels shall be maintained and spaced in a condition so that a wildfire would be unlikely to ignite the structure. [...] The intensity of fuels management may vary within the 100-foot perimeter of the structure, with more intense fuel reductions being utilized between 5 and 30 feet around the structure, and an ember-resistant zone being required within 5 feet of the structure, based on regulations promulgated by the board, in consultation with the department, to consider the elimination of materials in the ember-resistant zone that would likely be ignited by embers. [...] (2) Remove that portion of a tree that extends within 10 feet of the outlet of a chimney or stovepipe. (3) Maintain a tree, shrub, or other plant adjacent to or overhanging a building free of dead or dying wood. (4) Maintain the roof of a structure free of leaves, needles, or other vegetative materials.
Full Breakdown
Maintenance of weeds and brush on private property is enforced by the City of Riverside Code Enforcement Division for parcels within city limits, while the Riverside County Fire Department's Hazard Reduction Office handles unincorporated parcels. The Public Works Streets Maintenance and Landscape Divisions are responsible for non-landscaped city property and medians; owners and occupants are responsible for their property, the right-of-way adjacent to their residence, and alleys from the back of the property to the centerline. For parcels in a Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone (LRA-FHSZ) or adjacent to a State Responsibility Area, California Public Resources Code §4291 and Government Code §51182 require a defensible space of 100 feet around structures, divided into Zone 1 (0-30 ft, lean/clean) and Zone 2 (30-100 ft, reduced fuel). Riverside County's hazard-reduction program is implemented under County Ordinances 695 (as amended) and 787 (Riverside County Fire Code), which Riverside County Fire enforces on behalf of state requirements.
Violations & Fines
Inside city limits, code enforcement issues a Notice of Violation requiring abatement, generally within 30 days. If the owner fails to comply, the city may abate the nuisance and place a lien on the property for costs. Riverside County's Ordinance 695 / 787 process likewise allows inspection, notice, and forced abatement with cost recovery for unincorporated parcels.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can weeds and grass be on my property?
What happens if I don't clear my property?
Does my parcel need 100 feet of defensible space?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside
California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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Brush Clearance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle brush clearance.