Mill Valley Municipal Code Ch. 15.04 Fire Prevention

Any and all references in the Mill Valley Municipal Code to the "Fire Code" shall mean and refer to the Fire Code of the Southern Marin Fire Protection District, as the same may be amended from time to time.

(Ord. 1364, 12/8/2025)

The Southern Marin Fire Protection District is hereby designated, and shall serve, as the Fire Department of the City of Mill Valley. Any and all references in the Mill Valley Municipal Code to the Fire Department shall mean and refer to the Southern Marin Fire Protection District.

(Ord. 1364, 12/8/2025)

Any and all references in the Mill Valley Municipal Code to the Fire Chief or Fire Marshal shall mean and refer to the Fire Chief and Fire Marshal, respectively, of the Southern Marin Fire Protection District, or their designees. Any references in the Mill Valley Municipal Code to any other officer of the Fire Department shall mean and refer to that person employed or retained by the Southern Marin Fire Protection District having substantially the same job responsibilities, or the designee.

(Ord. 1364, 12/8/2025)

Any person who owns, leases, controls or maintains any building or structure, and/or lands within specific Wildland-Urban Interface Areas of the jurisdiction of the City of Mill Valley shall comply with the following:

A. Cut and remove all pyrophytic combustible vegetation and ground coverings within 10 feet of property lines and driveways and within 100 feet of structures, up to 200 feet (but not beyond the property line) when topographic or pyrophytic vegetative types necessitate removal as determined by the Fire Chief or the Fire Chief's designee. After removal of pyrophytic combustible vegetation, the area shall be maintained free of such vegetation. "Pyrophytic combustible vegetation" means vegetation that is highly flammable and endangers public safety by creating a fire hazard, including but not limited to seasonal and recurrent weeds, stubble, brush, dry leaves, and other hazardous vegetation such as, but not limited to, Coyote brush, Chaparral, Chamise, Manzanita, Rosemary, Tan Oak, Yew and Coastal Sagebrush.

B. Commencing May 1, 2021 (except as provided in subsection I of this section below), remove all of the following from the entirety of the parcel and maintain the property free of such vegetation:

C. Owners of property within the Wildland-Urban Interface Area are encouraged to voluntarily clear and create hardscape within the first three feet surrounding any residential or commercial structure. A deck or patio is considered to be a part of the structure. Hardscape may consist of gravel, concrete, brick, pavers, decomposed granite, and like materials, or bare ground. Organic mulches derived from plant materials such as pine needles, pine bark nuggets, wood chips, or shredded redwood or cedar bark, or from ground or shredded rubber, should not be within the three foot hardscape area. Succulent plants are acceptable in the three foot hardscape area. This hardscape area should be maintained clear of vegetation and organic material, other than succulent plants.

D. Remove accumulated dead vegetation on the property.

E. Cut and remove tree limbs that overhang wood decks and roofs.

F. Remove that portion of any tree which extends within 10 feet of any chimney, stovepipe, roof surfaces and roof gutters.

G. Clean any leaves and needles from roof and gutters.

H. Cut and remove growth less than three-inches in diameter, from the ground up to a minimum height of 10 feet, provided that no crown shall be raised to a point so as to remove branches from more than the lower one-third of the tree's total height.

I. Ladder fuels shall be removed within 30 feet of the structure.

J. When required by the Fire Code Official, cut and remove trees that are six inches of diameter or less at breast height, or four feet, six inches above ground, to achieve canopy separation within 30 feet of the structure.

K. Vegetation clearance requirements for new construction and substantial remodels in Wildland-Urban Interface Areas shall be in accordance with the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, as amended by the Southern Marin Fire Protection District. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, commencing on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter new construction and substantial remodels shall also comply with the vegetation removal requirements in subsection B above.

L. Removal of trees shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 20.67 of the Mill Valley Municipal Code.

Exception 1: When approved by the Fire Code Official, single specimens of trees (including but not limited to redwood trees and other heritage trees) or other vegetation that are well-pruned and maintained so as to effectively manage fuels and do not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from the native growth to any structure.

Exception 2: When approved by the Fire Code Official, grass and other vegetation located more than 30 feet from buildings or structures and less than 18 inches in height above the ground need not be removed, where necessary to stabilize soil, prevent erosion, or otherwise protect against landslides or slope failures. Grasses shall be cut and maintained at a height of three inches or shorter.

Exception 3: Where necessary to mitigate potential impacts to special status species, including but not limited to nesting birds, the Fire Code Official may approve deferred removal of trees or vegetation. Where the removal of multiple trees or significant amounts of vegetation is proposed, the Fire Chief may require a property owner to hire a qualified biologist to conduct a species survey and prepare a mitigation plan.

(Ord. 1364, 12/8/2025)

Tracer bullets and tracer charges shall not be possessed, fired or caused to be fired into or across hazardous fire areas. Rockets, model planes, gliders and balloons powered with an engine, propellant or other feature liable to start or cause a fire shall not be fired or projected into or across hazardous fire areas.

(Ord. 1364, 12/8/2025)