Section 304 — COMBUSTIBLE WASTE MATERIAL

Combustible waste material creating a fire hazard shall not be allowed to accumulate in buildings or structures or upon premises.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.07(a)] Clearances.

(a) General. No combustible material shall be placed or stored within 10 feet of any building or structure.

304.1.1 Valet trash. Valet trash collection shall be permitted only where approved. The owner and valet trash collection service provider shall comply with the rules and limitations established by the jurisdiction.

304.1.2 Waste material. Accumulations of wastepaper, wood, hay, straw, weeds, litter or combustible or flammable waste or rubbish of any type shall not be permitted to remain on a roof or in any court, yard, vacant lot, alley, parking lot, open space, or beneath a grandstand, bleacher, pier, wharf, manufactured home, recreational vehicle or other similar structure.

304.1.3 Vegetation. Weeds, grass, vines or other growth that is capable of being ignited and endangering property, shall be cut down and removed by the owner or occupant of the premises. Vegetation clearance requirements in wildland-urban interface areas shall be in accordance with Chapter 49.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.07(b)] Clearances.

(b) Ground Clearance. The space surrounding every building or structure shall be maintained in accordance with the following:

3-4 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE

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GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Any person that owns, leases, controls, operates or maintains any building or structure in, upon or adjoining any mountainous area or forest-covered lands, brush covered lands or grass-covered lands, or any land which is covered with flammable material, shall at all times do all of the following:

(1) Maintain around and adjacent to such building or structure a firebreak made by removing and clearing away, for a distance of not less than 30 feet on each side thereof or to the property line, whichever is nearer, all flammable vegetation or other combustible growth. This section does not apply to single specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery or similar plants which are used as ground cover, if they do not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from the native growth to any building

or structure.

(2) Maintain around and adjacent to any such building or structure additional fire protection or firebreak made by removing all bush, flammable vegetation or combustible growth which is located from 30 feet to 100 feet from such building or structure or to the property line, whichever is nearer, as may be required by the enforcing agency if he finds that, because of extra hazardous conditions, a firebreak of only 30 feet around such building or structure is not sufficient to provide reasonable fire safety. Grass and other vegetation located more than 30 feet from such building or structure and less than 18 inches in height above the ground may be maintained where necessary to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.

(3) Remove that portion of any tree which extends within 10 feet of the outlet of any chimney or stovepipe.

(4) Cut and remove all dead or dying portions of trees located adjacent to or overhanging any building.

(5) Maintain the roof of any structure free of leaves, needles or other dead vegetative growth.

(6) Provide and maintain at all times a screen over the outlet of every chimney or stovepipe that is attached to any fireplace, stove or other device that burns any solid or liquid fuel. The screen shall be constructed of nonflammable material with openings of not more than [1] / 2 inch in size.

(7) Vegetation around all applicable buildings and structures shall be maintained in accordance with the following laws and regulations:

(A) Public Resources Code Section 4291.

(B) California Code of Regulations Title 14 - Natural Resources, Division 1.5 - Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, “General Guideline to Create Defensible Space.”

(C) California Government Code Section 51182.

(D) California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 9.

304.1.4 Space underneath seats. Spaces underneath grandstand and bleacher seats shall be kept free from combustible and flammable materials. Except where enclosed in not less than 1-hour fire-resistance-rated construction in accordance with the California Building Code .

304.1.4.1 Spaces underneath grandstands and bleachers. Spaces underneath grandstands and bleachers shall not be occupied or utilized for purposes other than means of egress except where equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.1.5.1, or separated with fire barriers and horizontal assemblies in accordance with Section 1030.1.1.1.

Storage of combustible rubbish shall not produce conditions that will create a nuisance or a hazard to the public health, safety or welfare.

Containers for combustible rubbish and waste material located within or near a structure shall comply with Sections 304.3.1 through 304.3.7.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.19(b) and (c)] Housekeeping.

Every building or portion of a building governed by California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1 regulations shall be maintained in a neat orderly manner, free from any condition that would create a fire or life hazard or a condition which would add to or contribute to the rapid spread of fire. Provisions shall be made for the proper storage and disposal of waste materials and rubbish consistent with the following:

(b) All combustible waste material and rubbish shall be stored in approved containers or shall be stored in a manner approved by the enforcing agency as being consistent with standard fire prevention practices until such waste material and rubbish is removed from the premises or otherwise disposed of in a proper manner. (1) Containers with a capacity exceeding 5.33 cubic feet (40 gallons) (0.15 m [3] ) shall comply with the provisions of California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 9, Section 304.3.

(2) Wastebaskets and linen containers in Group I-2 and I-3 occupancies shall comply with the provisions of California Code of Regu- lations Title 24, Part 9, Section 808.

(c) Approved self-closing metal containers or listed disposal containers by an approved testing or listing agency shall be provided and maintained in all rooms or locations where oily rags, oily waste, paint rags or similar materials subject to spontaneous ignition are used or are stored temporarily. Such containers shall be emptied daily.

304.3.1 Spontaneous ignition. Materials susceptible to spontaneous ignition, such as oily rags, shall be stored in a listed disposal container. Contents of such containers shall be removed and disposed of daily.

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GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

304.3.2 Low heat release materials. Where required by this section, low heat release materials shall exhibit a peak rate of heat release not exceeding 300 kW/m [2] where tested in accordance with ASTM E1354 at an incident heat flux of 50 kW/m [2] in the horizontal orientation.

304.3.3 Capacity exceeding 5.33 cubic feet. Containers with a capacity exceeding 5.33 cubic feet (40 gallons) (0.15 m [3] ) shall be provided with lids. Containers and lids shall be constructed of noncombustible materials or low heat release materials in accordance with Section 304.3.2.

304.3.4 Capacity of 1 cubic yard or more. Dumpsters with an individual capacity of 1.0 cubic yard [200 gallons (0.76 m [3] )] or more shall not be stored in buildings or placed within 5 feet (1524 mm) of combustible walls, openings or combustible roof eave lines unless the dumpsters are constructed of noncombustible materials or low heat release materials in accordance with Section 304.3.2.

Exceptions:

1. Dumpsters in areas protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system installed throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3.
2. Storage in a structure shall not be prohibited where the structure is of Type I or IIA construction, located not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) from other buildings and used exclusively for dumpster or container storage.

304.3.5 Capacity exceeding 1.5 cubic yards. Dumpsters and containers with an individual capacity of 1.5 cubic yards [40.5 cubic feet (1.15 m [3] )] or more shall not be stored in buildings or placed within 5 feet (1524 mm) of combustible walls, openings or combustible roof eave lines.

Exceptions:

1. Dumpsters or containers that are placed inside buildings in areas protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system installed throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3.
2. Storage in a structure shall not be prohibited where the structure is of Type I or IIA construction, located not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) from other buildings and used exclusively for dumpster or container storage.
3. Dumpsters or containers that are located adjacent to buildings where the exterior area is protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system.

304.3.6 Waste and linen containers in Group I-1, I-2 and I-3 occupancies and ambulatory care facilities. Waste and linen containers located in Group I-1, I-2 and I-3 occupancies and ambulatory care facilities shall be constructed of noncombustible materials or low heat release materials in accordance with Section 304.3.2. Metal waste containers with a capacity of 20 gallons (75.7 L) or more shall be listed in accordance with UL 1315 and shall be provided with a noncombustible lid. Portable waste and linen containers exceeding 32 gallons (121 L) shall be stored in an area classified as a waste and linen collection room and constructed in accordance with Table 509.1 of the California Building Code .

Exception: Recycling clean waste containers complying with Section 304.3.6.2 are not required to be stored in waste and linen collection rooms.

304.3.6.1 Capacity density. The average capacity density of containers located in an individual room or space, other than waste and linen collection rooms, shall not be greater than 0.5 gal/ft (20.4 L/m).

304.3.6.2 Recycling clean waste containers. Recycling clean waste containers, including their lids, shall not exceed an individual capacity of 96 gallons (363 L).

304.3.7 Waste containers with a capacity of 20 gallons or more in Group R-2 college and university dormitories. Waste containers, including their lids, located in Group R-2 college and university dormitories, and with a capacity of 20 gallons (75.7 L) or more, shall be constructed of noncombustible materials or low heat release materials in accordance with Section 304.3.2. Metal waste containers with a capacity of 20 gallons (75.7 L) or more shall be listed in accordance with UL 1315 and shall be provided with a noncombustible lid. Portable waste containers exceeding 32 gallons (121 L) shall be stored in an area classified as a waste collection room constructed in accordance with Table 509.1 of the California Building Code .