San Angelo, TX Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Hazard Zones
- None formally mapped
- Defensible Space
- No local mandate
- Brush Limit
- 12 inches citywide
- Burn Bans
- County-issued in drought
- Region
- Drought-prone West Texas
Summary
San Angelo has no formal wildfire hazard zone map or defensible-space ordinance like California's. Wildfire risk in this drought-prone West Texas region is managed through the 12-inch weed-and-brush limit, open-burning restrictions, and Tom Green County burn bans during dry spells.
Brush. Mesquite trees, greasewood, cacti or any other tree or shrubbery occurring naturally in the area.
Brush trimmings. Tree and shrub trimmings which are not susceptible to placement in regulation containers.
Debris. Dirt, concrete, rocks, bricks, other wastes or building materials.
Exposed animal carcass. The carcass of an animal exposed so that noxious or disagreeable odors may escape therefrom and contaminate the air.
Garbage. Shall include, among other similar matter, all animal or vegetable matter, such as waste materials and refuse from kitchens, residences, grocery stores, butcher shops, restaurants, cafes, hotels, rooming houses and boarding houses, and other deleterious substances.
Junk. Worn-out, worthless, and discarded material, including odds and ends, old iron or other metal, glass and paper.
Lot. A lot as defined in the zoning regulations plus any additional real property located between the property line and the curb or the property line and one-half the width of the alley.
Offal. Waste meat products or parts of a butchered animal rejected as unfit for use.
Sanitary. A condition of good order and cleanliness that precludes the probability of disease transmission.
Trash. All refuse other than garbage, debris and brush, as herein defined, including any household trash and yard trash (grass clippings, leaves, etc.).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 10).
Full Breakdown
Unlike California, Texas designates no statutory very-high fire hazard severity zones, and San Angelo has not adopted a defensible-space or wildland-urban-interface building ordinance. Wildfire risk across semi-arid Tom Green County is instead addressed through existing rules: the citywide 12-inch limit on grass, weeds, and brush (Sec. 7.02.063), which defines brush as mesquite, greasewood, and cacti; the prohibition on ground fires and unattended open burning (Article 6.06); and drought burn bans issued by the Tom Green County Commissioners Court that suspend outdoor burning. Clearing vegetation near structures and heeding active burn bans are the practical wildfire safeguards here.
Violations & Fines
There is no wildfire-zone penalty, but overgrown-vegetation and open-burning violations are enforced under Sec. 1.01.009 with fines up to $2,000 per day, plus city abatement and liens for uncut brush.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my San Angelo property in a wildfire zone?
Do I have to clear brush for wildfire protection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Angelo
Texas rules heatmap·Compare San Angelo to another location·View the Texas fire regulations overview
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