Los Angeles County Municipal Code § 325.2 Structures

Any person owning, leasing, controlling, operating, or maintaining any building, structure, or apiary upon or adjoining any mountainous, or forest- or brush-covered land or land covered with flammable growth, and any person owning, leasing, or controlling any land adjacent to such structures, shall at all times maintain defensible space of 100 feet (30.48 m) from each side and from the front and rear of the structure in accordance with Sections 325.2.1.1 through 325.2.1.6. The intensity of fuels management may vary within the 100-foot perimeter of the structure, with more intense fuel reductions being used between 5 and 30 feet (1524 and 9144 mm) around the structure, and an ember-resistant zone being required within 5 feet (1524 mm) of the structure, based on regulations promulgated by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, in consultation with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, to consider the elimination of materials in the ember-resistant zone that would likely be ignited by embers.

The amount of fuel deemed necessary to be removed or modified shall consider the flammability of the structure as affected by building material, building standards, location, and type of vegetation. Fuels shall be maintained and spaced in a condition so that a wildfire burning under average weather conditions would be unlikely to ignite the structure, as determined by the fire code official.

Exceptions:

Extra hazard — distance required. The governing body finds that in many cases because of extra hazardous situations, a defensible-space firebreak around buildings, structures, or apiaries of only 100 feet (30.48 m) is not sufficient and that a defensible-space firebreak of more than 100 feet (30.48 m) may be necessary. If the fire code official or Commissioner finds

that because of the location of any building, structure, or apiary and because of other conditions, defensible space of 100 feet (30.48 m) around such building, structure, or apiary as required by Section 325.2.1, is not sufficient, the fire code official or Commissioner may notify all owners of the properties affected that they must clear all flammable vegetation and other combustible growth or reduce the amount of fuel content for a distance greater than 100 feet (30.48 m), but not to exceed 200 feet (60.96 m).

Limitations. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to require any person to maintain any clearing on land where such person does not have the legal right to maintain such clearing, nor shall any provision of this ordinance be construed to require any person to enter upon or to damage property of another without the consent of the owner thereof.

Ornamental plants and trees known to be flammable — including but not limited to acacia, cedar, cypress, eucalyptus, juniper, pine, and pampas grass — shall not be exempt from compliance with these requirements.

Exception: Ornamental plants and trees that are individually planted, spaced and maintained in such a manner that they do not form a means of transmitting fire from native growth to the structure.

The fire code official shall be authorized to exempt the following specimens from these requirements:

Cultivated specimens. Cultivated ground cover such as green grass, ivy, succulents, or similar plants, provided that they are maintained in a condition that does not form a means of transmitting fire from native growth to the structure, and that they comply with all other applicable laws, shall be exempt from these requirements.

To prevent soil erosion. Where located more than 30 feet (9.14 m) from buildings, structures, or apiaries, grass and other vegetation maintained where necessary to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion, provided that it is maintained at a height of less than 18 inches (45.72 cm) above the ground, and isolated from other fuels.

Remove all dead or dying grass, plants, shrubs, trees, branches, leaves, weeds, and pine needles. Maintain any tree and/or shrub adjacent to or overhanging any building, structure, or apiary free of dead wood.

Exception: At distances at least 30 or 50 feet (9.14 or 15.24 m), as determined by the fire code official, from buildings, structures, and apiaries, loose surface litter, normally consisting of fallen leaves or needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches, shall be permitted to remain, provided that it does not exceed a maximum depth of 6 inches (152 mm).

Maintain the roof and rain gutters of any building, structure or apiary free of leaves, needles, or other dead vegetative growth.

That portion of any tree which extends within 10 feet (3.05 m) of the outlet of any chimney or stovepipe shall be removed.

Place or store firewood, manure, compost, and other similar combustible materials a minimum of 30 feet (9.14 m) from any building, structure, or apiary. All exposed wood piles located within 100 feet (30.48 m) of a building, structure, or apiary shall

maintain a minimum of 10 feet (3.05 m) of clearance, down to bare mineral soil, or equivalent, in all directions of the wood pile.