Temecula, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Under California Public Resources Code §4291, every property owner of a structure in or within 100 feet of a State Responsibility Area or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone must maintain defensible space. Temecula — served by Riverside County Fire under contract with CAL FIRE — enforces the standard rigorously: Zone 0 (0-5 ft, 'ember-resistant zone') under AB 3074 requires removing all combustibles immediately adjacent to the structure including bark mulch, woody plants, dead vegetation, and combustible furniture/debris from decks. Zone 1 (5-30 ft, 'lean and green') requires irrigated, low-fuel landscaping with 10 ft spacing between tree crowns, removal of dead branches, and limbing trees to 6 ft above ground. Zone 2 (30-100 ft, 'reduced fuel zone') requires grass mowed to 4 inches or less, 10 ft horizontal spacing between brush clusters, and removal of dead vegetation and ladder fuels. CAL FIRE sends notice with re-inspection deadlines (typically 30 days). Failure to comply results in city/county abatement contractor performing the work, with charges plus 25% admin fee billed to the property and recorded as a lien if unpaid. Critical for Temecula's WUI areas: De Luz boundary, Roripaugh Ranch hills, Chardonnay Hills, Crowne Hill, and any property near Cleveland NF or south of Pechanga.