Los Angeles County Municipal Code § 4906.3 Fuel Modification Plans in Fire Hazard Severity Zones

Permits shall be required as set forth in Section 105.6, with the exception of any differences which may be specified in this Chapter or by the Fire Code Official. A fuel modification plan shall be submitted and have preliminary fire protection plan approval prior to any subdivision of land or Coastal Development Permit (CDP); or have final fire protection plan approval as stipulated below; where such structure or subdivision is located within areas designated as a Fire Hazard Severity Zone within State Responsibility Areas or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone within the Local Responsibility Areas, according to applicable Fire Hazard Zone maps, and Appendix PP of this Code at the time of application.

Preliminary approval is required for applications for any of the following activities:

A.

Subdivisions:

Where the proposed activity would result in 4 or fewer lots.

Where the proposed activity would result in 5 or more lots.

B.

Coastal Development Permits (CDP).

Final approval is required for applications for any of the following activities:

A.

New construction:

Any enclosed structure over 120 square feet.

Any structure enclosed on three sides or more and greater than or equal to 200 square feet (18.5 m 2 ).

B.

Remodel, modification, reconstruction, or change of occupancy:

Any remodeling, modification, or reconstruction that increases the square footage of the existing structure or footprint by 50 percent or more within any 12-month period.

Any structure that changes occupancy classification.

Exception: Structures not included in the list of "New construction" applicability (Item "A.", above) are exempt.

C.

Subdivisions:

Where the proposed activity would result in 5 or more lots.

Exemptions:

Structures that do not require a building permit; or

Structures constructed of noncombustible materials, open on all sides, and not used for storage or habitation.

Every fuel modification plan shall be reviewed by the Forestry Division of the Fire Department for defensible space, fire safety, compliance with Sections 325.2.1, 325.10, and 503.2.1 of this Code, the Fire Department's fuel modification guidelines, and California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, subchapter 2. Before such final plan has been approved by the Forestry Division of the Fire Department, a signed and notarized copy of the provided covenant and agreement (and/or previously reviewed and approved association CC&R's that include the necessary fuel modification information) shall be recorded at the County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's Office and a copy given to the fuel modification unit.

An on-site inspection must be conducted by the personnel of the Forestry Division of the Fire Department and a final approval of the fuel modification plan issued by the Forestry Division prior to a certificate of occupancy being granted by the building code official. The fuel modification inspection ensures compliance with applicable requirements of this Code; the

Building Code, Section 701A.5 (Vegetation management compliance); and the Residential Code, Section R337.1.5 (Vegetation management compliance).

(Ord. 2025-0027 § 3, 2025.)

Any modification to an approved fuel modification landscape plan or addition to a structure that affects the approved zones of an approved fuel modification plan must be reviewed and approved by the Fuel Modification Unit of the Fire Department prior to installation of landscaping or issuance of a construction permit by the building code official for such an addition.

An owner of a property found to be in noncompliance with the fuel modification requirements shall be subject to an administrative fine (Section 327) and applicable liens or assessments as allowed by the provisions of Title 1, Chapter 1.25 of the County Code and this code. Failure to comply with this code is punishable as a misdemeanor and subject to additional enforcement proceedings, including corrective measures which shall be done at the owner's expense in accordance with Section 325.

Any person who disagrees with any decision related to fuel modification plans may file a written appeal with the Chief of the Forestry Division. The Chief of the Forestry Division will adjudicate all policy interpretations relevant to fuel modification plan requirements and serve as the final authority in this appeals process.

A plan check fee shall be payable to the Fire Department, upon the submission of any fuel modification plan, landscape plan, or irrigation plan for review and approval by the Fire Department. Refer to the Fire-Code Fee Schedule (Appendix QQ of this code) for said fees.

Fees will be based on the intended use of the structure, including permanently designated sites for tents, yurts, trailers, modulars, and similar temporary structures.

Landscape plans shall be provided when required by the enforcing agency. The landscape plan shall include development and maintenance requirements for the vegetation management zone adjacent to structures and roadways, and to provide significant fire hazard reduction benefits for public and firefighting safety.

Landscape plans shall contain the following:

Delineation of the 30-foot (9144 mm), 100-foot (30.5 m),and up to 200-foot (61 m) (as necessary), fuel management zones from all structures.

Identification of existing vegetation to remain and proposed new vegetation.

Identification of irrigated areas.

A plant legend with both botanical and common names, and identification of all plant material symbols.

Identification of ground coverings within the 30-foot (9144 mm) zone.

All new vegetation shall be fire-resistant vegetation in accordance with this section.

Exception: Trees classified as non-fire-resistant vegetation complying with Section 4906.3.5.2.2.1.

To be considered fire-resistant vegetation, it must meet at least one of the following:

Be identified as fire-resistant vegetation in an approved book, journal or listing from an approved organization.

Be identified as fire-resistant vegetation by a licensed landscape architect with supporting justification.

Plants considered fire-resistant vegetation and approved by the local enforcing agency.

All new plantings of shrubs shall comply with the following:

Shrubs shall not exceed 6 feet (1829 mm) in height.

Groupings of shrubs are limited to a maximum aggregate diameter of 10 feet (3048 mm).

Shrub groupings shall be separated from other groupings a minimum of 15 feet (4572 mm).

Shrub groupings shall be separated from structures a minimum of 30 feet (9144 mm).

Where shrubs are located below or within a tree's drip line, the lowest tree branch shall be a minimum of three times the height of the understory shrubs or 10 feet (3048 mm), whichever is greater.

Trees shall be managed as follows within the 30-foot zone (9144 mm) of a structure:

New trees shall be planted and maintained so that the tree's drip line at maturity is a minimum of 10 feet (3048 mm) from any combustible structure.

The horizontal distance between crowns of new trees and crowns of adjacent trees shall not be less than 10 feet (3048 mm).

Existing trees shall be trimmed to provide a minimum separation of 10 feet (3048 mm) away from chimney and stovepipe outlets per Title 14, Section 1299.03.

New trees not classified as fire-resistant vegetation, such as conifers, palms, pepper trees and eucalyptus species, shall be permitted provided the tree is planted and maintained so that the tree's drip line at maturity is a minimum 30 feet (9144 mm) from any combustible structure.

4907 - DEFENSIBLE SPACE