Santa Cruz adopts the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone map under §19.20.010, triggering wildland-urban interface (WUI) building and defensible-space requirements citywide for designated zones.
Properties in mapped Moderate, High, or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones are subject to California Building Code Chapter 7A (WUI building materials), Public Resources Code §4291 defensible space rules, and the City's Chapter 90 wildfire-risk-area trespass and spark-arrester rules. The fire chief may temporarily close wildfire risk areas to public entry during dangerous conditions.
WUI building violations are enforced by the fire code official and chief building official under §19.05.070. Defensible-space failure supports abatement under PRC §4291.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Santa Cruz, CA
No Santa Cruz-specific ordinance directly regulates aircraft noise in flight; such regulation is federally preempted by the FAA, and California PUC 21669 set...
Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz prohibits barbed-wire fences, electrified or not, without a conditional fence permit, and bars any fence that creates a fire or traffic hazard. Ca...
Santa Cruz, CA
California restricts exotic pets through the Fish & Game Code and CDFW regulations — ferrets and hedgehogs are illegal statewide, and many wild/exotic specie...
Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz zoning code (SCMC 24.12.620) allows a maximum of six domestic animals on any residential lot, of which no more than three may be dogs and no more ...
Santa Cruz, CA
The City of Santa Cruz has a Heritage Tree ordinance requiring a permit to remove heritage or significant trees, even on private property, with replacement r...
Santa Cruz, CA
Above-ground pools holding more than 18 inches of water in the City of Santa Cruz require a building permit and the same 60-inch barrier protection as in-gro...
See how Santa Cruz's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
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