Cupertino's western foothills are in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, which CAL FIRE expanded to over 1,000 acres in 2025. The Santa Clara County Fire Department enforces adopted Fire Code Chapter 49 defensible-space rules across the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area.
CAL FIRE's 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone update expanded Cupertino's Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone from roughly 16 acres to over 1,050 acres, adding foothill and canyon neighborhoods along Stevens Creek Canyon, the Monta Vista hillsides, and areas near Permanente Creek and Rancho San Antonio. Cupertino has adopted a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area map through amendments to California Fire Code Chapter 49 (CMC 16.40.200). WUI owners must maintain defensible space by clearing vegetation within 30 feet of structures, extending to 100 feet where terrain warrants, plus roof and chimney clearing. VHFHSZ parcels also carry AB 38 disclosure and defensible-space duties under Public Resources Code 4291 and Government Code 51175 through 51189. The Santa Clara County Fire Department conducts inspections.
Failure to maintain required defensible space in the WUI or a VHFHSZ can result in fire department corrective orders under Chapter 49; unabated hazards may be cleared at the owner's expense. VHFHSZ status also triggers hardened-construction and point-of-sale disclosure requirements.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Under California's SB 1383, Cupertino residents and businesses must keep food scraps and yard trimmings out of the trash and use Recology South Bay's organic...
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Artificial turf is not counted as drought-tolerant landscaping in California, and under SB 676 (Government Code 53087.7) cities like Cupertino may regulate s...
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Cupertino's Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 14.15) implements California's MWELO and caps turf at 25% of landscape area, favoring...
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Cupertino places no ban on residential rainwater harvesting and actively encourages on-site rainwater and graywater capture in its Water-Efficient Landscape ...
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Cupertino has permanent water-waste prohibitions under Municipal Code Chapter 15.32, banning runoff, hosing pavement, and un-nozzled hoses. Water is supplied...
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Cupertino declares overgrown weeds and dry brush a fire nuisance under Municipal Code Chapter 9.08, enforced through a Santa Clara County weed abatement prog...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
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