Colton Municipal Code Ch. 3 General Requirements

Chapter 3 General Requirements is adopted in its entirety with the following amendments:

(Ord. No. O-12-25, § 13, 12-16-2025)

Section 304.1.3 Vegetation of the California Fire Code is hereby revised as follows:

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 requirement in urban-wildland interface areas shall be in accordance with the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code and City of Colton Vegetation Management Guidelines. If a fire hazard is determined to exist, by the fire code official or his or her designee, the fire code official may give notice to the owner of the property upon which a hazardous condition exists to abate such condition. If abatement is not performed within the time frames granted by such notices or other written documentation, the fire code official may cause abatement to be done in accordance with public nuisance abatement procedures and make the expense of such abatement a lien upon the property at which such condition exists.

(Ord. No. O-12-25, § 13, 12-16-2025)

Section 305.6 Outdoor fires is hereby amended by adding the following subsections:

305.6 Outdoor fires. Outdoor fires shall be in accordance with Sections 305, 307, and 308 and with other applicable sections of this code.

305.6.1 Where prohibited. Outdoor fires shall not be built, ignited or maintained in fuel modification areas, Wildfire Risk Areas (WRA) and adopted Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) or Special Fire Protection Areas (SFPA) or other locations where conditions could cause the spread of fire to the WRA, SFPA or FHSZ, except by permit from the fire code official.

Exceptions: A permit is not required for the following:

1. Fires in approved outdoor or portable fireplaces, fire pits, fire rings and similar devices at Group R occupancies that are installed and used in accordance with this code.

2. Outdoor fires at inhabited premises or official organized campsites or parks when located in a permanent or portable barbeque or grill, incinerator, or outdoor fireplace located at least 30 feet from combustible vegetation.

3. Installations or uses approved by the fire code official.

305.6.1.1 Fuel Modification Areas. Outdoor fires using wood or other solid fuel shall not be built, ignited or maintained in a fuel modification area.

305.6.1.2 Supervision. Where a permit is issued or when allowed under the exceptions of Section 305.6.1, such fires shall be supervised by a person 18 years of age or older.

305.6.2 Hazardous conditions. Outdoor fires are not allowed when predicted sustained winds exceed 8 MPH during periods when relative humidity is less than 25%, or a red flag condition has been declared or public announcement is made, when an official sign was caused to be posted by the fire code official, or when such fires present a hazard as determined by the fire code official.

305.6.3 Disposal of rubbish. Rubbish, trash or combustible waste material shall be burned only within an approved incinerator and in accordance with Section 307.2.1.

(Ord. No. O-12-25, § 13, 12-16-2025)

Section 307 OPEN BURNING; RECREATIONAL FIRES AND PORTABLE OUTDOOR FIREPLACES is hereby amended as follows:

SECTION 307 OPEN BURNING, RECREATIONAL FIRES, FIRE PITS, FIRE RINGS, AND OUTDOOR FIREPLACES

307.6 Outdoor Fireplaces, Fire Pits, Fire Rings, or similar devices used at Group R Occupancies. Outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, fire rings, or similar exterior devices used at Group R occupancies shall comply with this section.

Exception: Barbeques grills and other portable devices intended solely for cooking.

Section 307.6.1 Gas-fueled devices is hereby added as follows:

307.6.1 Gas-fueled devices. Outdoor fireplaces, fire pits and similar devices fueled by natural gas or liquefied-petroleum gas are allowed when approved by the Building Department and the device is designed to only burn a gas flame and not wood or other solid fuel. At R-3 occupancies, combustible construction and vegetation shall not be located within three feet of an atmospheric column that extends vertically from the perimeter of the device. At other R occupancies, the minimum distance shall be ten feet. Where a permanent Building Department approved hood and vent is installed, combustible construction may encroach upon this column between the bottom of the hood and the vent opening. Where chimneys or vents are installed, they shall have a spark arrester as defined in Section 202.

Section 307.6.2 Devices using wood or fuels other than natural gas or liquefied-petroleum gas is hereby added as follows:

307.6.2 Devices using wood or fuels other than natural gas or liquefied-petroleum gas. Permanent outdoor fireplaces burning wood or other solid fuel shall be constructed in accordance with the California Building Code with clearance from combustible construction and building openings as required therein. Fires in a fireplace shall be contained within a firebox with an attached chimney. The opening in the face of the firebox shall have an installed and maintained method of arresting sparks.

The burning of wood or other solid fuel in a device is not allowed within 25 feet of combustible structures unless within an approved permanent fireplace. Conditions which could cause a fire to spread within 25 feet of a structure or to vegetation shall be eliminated prior to ignition. Fires in devices burning wood or solid fuel shall be in accordance with Sections 305, 307, and 308.

Exceptions:

1. Portable fireplaces and fire rings/pits equipped with a device to arrest sparks shall be located at least 3' from combustible construction at R-3 occupancies,

2. Portable fireplaces, and fire pits/rings equipped with a device to arrest sparks, shall be located at least 15 feet from combustible structures at other R occupancies.

Section 307.6.2.1 Where prohibited is hereby added as follows:

307.6.2.1 Where prohibited. The burning of wood and other solid fuels shall not be conducted within a fuel modification zone, Wildfire Risk Area (WRA), Wildland-Urban Interface Area (WUI), or in locations where conditions could cause the spread of fire to the WRA or WUI.

Exceptions:

1. Permanent fireplaces that are not located in a fuel modification zone

2. Where determined by the Fire Code Official that the location or design of the device should reasonably prevent the start of a wildfire.

(Ord. No. O-12-25, § 13, 12-16-2025)

Section 324 Fuel Modification Requirements for New Construction is hereby added as follows:

324 Fuel Modification Requirements for New Construction. All new buildings to be built or installed in areas with or adjacent to land having hazardous combustible vegetation shall comply with the requirements in the edition of City of Colton Vegetation Management Guidelines currently in use at the time of plan submittal.

Section 325 Clearance of brush or vegetation growth from roadways is hereby added as follows:

325 Clearance of brush or vegetation growth from roadways. The fire code official is authorized to cause areas within 10 feet (3048 mm) on each side of portions of highways and private streets which are improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic, to be cleared of flammable vegetation and other combustible growth. Measurement shall be from the flow-line or the end of the improved edge of the roadway surfaces.

Exception: Single specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery or cultivated ground cover such as green grass, ivy, succulents or similar plants used as ground covers, provided that they do not form a means of readily transmitting fire.

Section 326 Unusual Circumstances is hereby added as follows:

326 Unusual circumstances. The fire code official may suspend enforcement of the vegetation management requirements and require reasonable alternative measures designed to advance the purpose of this code if determined that in any specific case that any of the following conditions exist:

1. Difficult terrain.

2. Danger of erosion.

3. Presence of plants included in any state and federal resources agencies, California Native Plant Society and county-approved list of wildlife, plants, rare, endangered and/or threatened species.

4. Stands or groves of trees or heritage trees.

5. Other unusual circumstances that make strict compliance with the clearance of vegetation provisions undesirable or impractical.

Section 327 Use of Equipment is hereby added as follows:

327 Use of equipment. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall use, operate, or cause to be operated in, upon or adjoining any hazardous fire area any internal combustion engine which uses hydrocarbon fuels, unless the engine is equipped with a spark arrester as defined in Section 327.1 maintained in effective working order, or the engine is constructed, equipped and maintained for the prevention of fire.

Exceptions:

1. Engines used to provide motor power for trucks, truck tractors, buses, and passenger vehicles, except motorcycles, are not subject to this section if the exhaust system is equipped with a muffler as defined in the Vehicle Code of the State of California.

2. Turbocharged engines are not subject to this section if all exhausted gases pass through the rotating turbine wheel, there is no exhaust bypass to the atmosphere, and the turbocharger is in good mechanical condition.

Section 327.1 Spark Arresters is hereby added as follows:

327.1 Spark arresters. Spark arresters shall comply with the following:

1. A spark arrester is a device constructed of nonflammable material specifically for the purpose of removing and retaining carbon and other flammable particles over 0.0232 of an inch (0.58 mm) in size from the exhaust flow of an internal combustion engine that uses hydrocarbon fuels or which is qualified and rated by the United States Forest Service.

2. Spark arresters affixed to the exhaust system of engines or vehicles subject to Section 324 shall not be placed or mounted in such a manner as to allow flames or heat from the exhaust system to ignite any flammable material.

Section 328 Restricted Entry is hereby added as follows:

328 Restricted entry. The fire code official shall determine and publicly announce when hazardous fire areas shall be closed to entry and when such areas shall again be opened to entry. Entry on and occupation of hazardous fire areas, except public roadways, inhabited areas or established trails and camp sites which have not been closed during such time when the hazardous fire area is closed to entry, is prohibited.

Exceptions:

1. Residents and owners of private property within hazardous fire areas and their invitees and guests going to or being upon their lands.

2. Entry, in the course of duty, by peace or police officers, and other duly authorized public officers, members of a fire department and members of the United States Forest Service.

Section 329 Trespassing on posted property is hereby added as follows:

329 Trespassing on posted property. When the fire code official determines that a specific area within a hazardous fire area presents an exceptional and continuing fire danger because of the density of natural growth, difficulty of terrain, proximity to structures or accessibility to the public, such areas shall be closed until changed conditions warrant termination of closure. Such areas shall be posted as hereinafter provided.

1. Signs. Approved signs prohibiting entry by unauthorized persons and referring to applicable fire code chapters shall be placed on every closed area.

2. Trespassing. Entering and remaining within areas closed and posted is prohibited.

Exception: Owners and occupiers of private or public property within closed and posted areas, their guests or invitees, and local, state and federal public officers and their authorized agents acting in the course of duty.

(Ord. No. O-12-25, § 13, 12-16-2025)