Yucaipa, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)
Key Facts
- Firebreak width
- Forty (40) feet at boundaries and through the land
- Acreage trigger
- Over five contiguous acres of hazardous vegetation
- Maximum enclosed block
- Two and one-half acres
- Enforcing agency
- San Bernardino County agricultural commissioner for the city
- Wider breaks
- Required near schools, hospitals, mobilehome parks
- WUI fuel modification
- Not less than 100 feet from development perimeter
Summary
In the City of Yucaipa, California, a parcel with over five contiguous acres of fire-hazard vegetation satisfies Yucaipa Municipal Code § 8.20.040 by keeping a forty (40) foot wide firebreak cleared at its boundaries and through the land, so no portion exceeds two and one-half acres. The agricultural commissioner can require wider breaks or solid disking.
In the case of any parcel or contiguous parcels under the same ownership upon which exists over five contiguous acres of vegetation which may constitute a fire hazard, the requirements of this section shall be satisfied if there is cleared, and maintained cleared, a forty (40) foot wide strip of land at the boundaries of such land, and through such land so that there shall not be any portion of the land larger than two and one-half acres which is not enclosed by itself within such a strip, which shall be a firebreak. The agricultural commissioner’s office may require firebreaks exceeding this forty (40) foot width or solid disking of larger than five acre parcels if larger breaks or solid disking are deemed necessary for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare, and where the neighboring properties are very sensitive to the effects of a fire, including, but not limited to, schools, hospitals, mobilehome parks, retirement residences and chaparral/development interfaces.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 8.20 (Refuse Abatement) of the Yucaipa Municipal Code adopts Chapter 3 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the San Bernardino County code, with amendments, as the brush and weed clearance program in the City of Yucaipa. Section 8.20.040 first sets the duty: every owner, occupant and person in control of land abates noxious weeds, dry grass, Russian thistle (tumbleweeds), dead trees and combustible rubbish that form a fire, health or safety hazard. For a parcel or contiguous parcels under one ownership with over five contiguous acres of hazardous vegetation, the duty is met by clearing and keeping cleared a forty (40) foot wide strip along the boundaries and through the land. No interior block can be larger than two and one-half acres, and each strip is the firebreak.
The agricultural commissioner's office can demand firebreaks wider than forty (40) feet, or solid disking of parcels larger than five acres, where neighboring properties are very sensitive to fire. The code names schools, hospitals, mobilehome parks, retirement residences and chaparral/development interfaces. A landowner who wants to use the firebreak option must notify the enforcing agency in writing. Under § 8.20.020 the enforcing agency is the San Bernardino County department of agriculture or county agricultural commissioner, and the notice to remove states that the weed abatement program is conducted by the county on behalf of the city.
New development has separate wildfire rules. In § 15.04.085, the City's amendments to the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code let the responsible Fire Authority require a fire protection plan and a fuel modification area around projects adjacent to hazardous fire areas, never less than 100 feet wide from the structure perimeter. Utilities operating in hazardous fire areas must keep a combustion-free space of not less than 10 feet in each direction around designated poles and towers, and the Chief can cause correction and lien the property if the owner fails to act.
Violations & Fines
The Chapter 8.20 text read here sets no separate penalty, so the general Yucaipa Municipal Code remedies apply. A violation is a misdemeanor with a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or up to six months in jail, or an infraction at the city attorney's discretion with fines of $100, $200 and $500 within one year. Administrative civil penalties under § 1.12.070 reach a maximum rate of $2,500.00 per violation per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How wide must a firebreak be on a large Yucaipa parcel?
Who enforces weed and brush clearance in the City of Yucaipa?
Do I have to tell the City if I use the firebreak option?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yucaipa
California rules heatmap·Compare Yucaipa to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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Brush Clearance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle brush clearance.