Rocklin Municipal Code Ch. 8.10 Fire Safe Vegetation and Debris Management

The purpose of this chapter is to adopt regulations in addition to those already in effect in Title 15 to further increase protection from fire of residents and their property within the city of Rocklin. This chapter is intended to include additional fire control regulations and not to amend any existing fire safety regulations in Title 15.

(Ord. No. 1114, § 3(Exh. A), 5-28-2019)

As used in this chapter, certain additional terms and words are defined as follows:

"APN" means the assessor's parcel number as assigned by the county of Placer.

"Building or structure" means any structure used for support or shelter of any use or occupancy.

"Defensible space" means the required space between a structure (home, detached garage, outbuildings, etc.) and the wildland area that, under normal conditions, creates a sufficient buffer to slow or halt the spread of a wildland fire to a structure. Defensible space protects the structure from igniting due to direct flame or radiant heat.

"Flammable vegetation and materials" means any growth or refuse piles that will readily burn, including, but not limited to, dead pine needles or leaves, dry weeds, and grasses over four inches in height, dead or dying trees or tree limbs, other dry invasive or noxious plants, or refuse piles, that constitute a fire hazard and endanger people or property.

"Improved property" means but is not limited to any real property developed with at least one building or structure.

"Refuse piles" means accumulations of flammable vegetation, rubbish and/or scrap materials, including, but not limited to, waste paper, wood, hay, straw, weeds, litter, or other flammable waste.

(Ord. No. 1114, § 3(Exh. A), 5-28-2019; Ord. No. 1178, § 4, 3-12-2024)

The following acts and conditions, when performed or existing upon any lot, piece, or parcel of land within the city of Rocklin, are hereby defined as and declared to be public nuisances because they are deemed to be injurious or potentially injurious to the public health, safety and welfare and they have a tendency to degrade the appearance and property values of surrounding property or cause damage to or interfere with public rights- of-way:

A. Maintain defensible space of one hundred feet from each side and from the front and rear of each structure, but not beyond the property line unless otherwise required by law of this code. The amount of fuel modification necessary 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 or other fire burning under average weather conditions would be unlikely to ignite the structure. Property subject to this Code shall be mowed or cleared of all flammable vegetation and materials, as defined in this chapter. Any plant, tree, or shrub adjacent to or overhanging a building and/or structure shall be free of dead or dying wood. This does not apply to ornamental shrubbery or similar plants that are used as a groundcover that does not readily support the ignition of fire or a means of rapidly transmitting fire from the growth to any building or structure. A person is not required to manage fuels on land if that person does not have the legal right to manage fuels, nor is a person required to enter upon or to alter property that is owned by any other person without the consent of the owner of the property.

B. All lots, pieces, or parcels of land within the city of Rocklin, whether improved or unimproved property, shall be in compliance with standards for the maintenance and control of flammable vegetation and materials. The standards shall be reviewed and may be amended from time-to-time in response to environmental or geographical conditions. Standards shall be effective upon adoption by the city council.

C. The fire chief or his or her designee is authorized to grant exemptions upon any lot, piece, or parcel of land within the city of Rocklin upon finding that such exemption is necessary for public health, safety, or welfare.

(Ord. No. 1114, § 3(Exh. A), 5-28-2019; Ord. No. 1178, § 4, 3-12-2024)

Whenever the fire chief or his or her designee finds that a nuisance, as defined by Section 8.10.30, exists on any premises located within the city, he/she is authorized to advise the property owner of the nuisance and direct him/her to abate the nuisance by a specified date. The amount of time allowed to abate a nuisance shall be determined by considering the severity of the nuisance and its effect on the health, safety, welfare and aesthetics of the community. The property owner shall be notified of the existence of the nuisance in writing. The notification shall detail the violations. If the property owner is absent, such notice shall be by certified mail, addressed to the said owner at the last known address as revealed by the tax rolls, and additional addresses as may be known by the fire chief or his or her designee.

(Ord. No. 1114, § 3(Exh. A), 5-28-2019)

The owner of any building, structure or property found to be a nuisance under the provisions of this chapter may abate the nuisance at any time within the abatement period established under the provisions of Section 8.10.040, by rehabilitation, repair, removal or demolition. The fire chief or his or her designee shall be advised of the abatement and shall inspect the premises to ensure that the nuisance has in fact been abated. Any necessary permits and/or approvals shall be obtained by the owner.

(Ord. No. 1114, § 3(Exh. A), 5-28-2019)

If a nuisance is not properly abated within the period established under the provisions of Section 8.10.050, the property is declared to be a public nuisance and shall be abated by rehabilitation, removal, demolition or repair pursuant to the procedures set forth in Chapters 1.08 through 1.18 of Title 1 of this code.

(Ord. No. 1114, § 3(Exh. A), 5-28-2019)

The fire chief or his or her designee is hereby authorized to enforce the requirements of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1114, § 3(Exh. A), 5-28-2019)