East Palo Alto Municipal Code Art. IV Hazardous Fire Areas

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

A. Maintain around and adjacent to such building or structures a firebreak made by removing and clearing away, for a distance of not less than thirty (30) feet on each side thereof or to the property line, whichever is nearer, all flammable vegetation or other combustible growth. This subdivision 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;

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

C. Remove that portion of any tree which extends within ten feet of the outlet of any chimney or stovepipe;

D. Maintain the roof of any structure free of leaves, needles or other dead vegetative growth;

E. 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 devices that burns any solid or liquid fuel. The screen shall be constructed of nonflammable material with openings of not more than one-half inch in size.

(Prior code § 4-2.401)

No person shall deposit any solid waste or rubbish in or upon any hazardous fire area other than in established disposal sites.

(Prior code § 4-2.402)

No person shall deposit any hot ashes or coals in or upon any hazardous fire area except in the hearth of an established fire pit, camp stove or fireplace, or in a noncombustible container with a tight-fitting lid which is kept or maintained in a safe location not less than ten feet from any combustible vegetation or structure.

(Prior code § 4-2.403)