Chapter 5 — SPECIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS

2. Identification of irrigated and non-irrigated zones.

3. Requirements for vegetation reduction around emergency access and evacuation routes.

4. Identification of points of access for equipment and personnel to maintain vegetation in common areas.

5. Legally binding statements regarding community responsibility for maintenance of fuel modification zones.

6. Legally binding statements to be included in covenants, conditions and restrictions regarding property owner responsibilities for vegetation maintenance.

Section 503.1 of the California WUI Code is revised to read:

interface areas shall meet the construction requirements in accordance with Chapter 5. Materials required to be ignition- resistant building materials shall comply with the requirements of Section 503.2.

Exceptions:

1. New accessory buildings and miscellaneous structures complying with Section 504.11.

2. Group C occupancy special buildings conforming to the limitations specified in Section 450.4.1 of the California Building Code.

(Added by Ord. No. 10977 (N.S.), effective 4-2-26)

Section 504.4 of the California WUI code is revised to read:

Gutters and downspouts shall be constructed of noncombustible material. Gutters shall be provided with an approved means to prevent the accumulation of leaves and debris in the gutter and shall be non-combustible.

Section 504.8 of the California WUI code is revised to read:

Exterior windows, window walls and glazed doors, windows within exterior doors, and skylights shall be constructed of any of the following:

1. Multilayered glazed panels with at least two panes of tempered glass complying with Section 2406 of the California Building Code.

2. Glass block.

3. Glazing with a fire-protection rating of not less than 20 minutes when tested according to NFPA 257 or UL 9, and shall be exempt from the hose stream test.

Section 504.9 of the California WUI code is revised to read:

Exterior doors shall be constructed in accordance with any of the following:

1. Noncombustible construction.,

2. Solid-core wood not less than 1¾ inches thick (44 mm).

3. The exterior door shall be constructed of solid core wood that complies with the following requirements:

Raised panels shall not be less than 1¼ inches (32 mm) thick, except for the exterior perimeter of the raised panel

that shall be permitted to taper to a tongue not less than 3/8 inch (10 mm) thick.

4. Have a fire protection rating of not less than 20 minutes when tested according to NFPA 252, UL 10B or UL 10C.

Windows within doors and glazed doors shall be in accordance with Section 504.8.

compliant WUI vents shall be upgraded and/or retrofitted to resist the intrusion of flames and embers.

(Added by Ord. No. 10977 (N.S.), effective 4-2-26)

Section 507 of the California WUI Code is revised to read:

replaced or have 50 percent or more replaced in a 12-month period shall be replaced with a roof covering required for new construction specified Sections 504.2 and 504.2.1. All portions of a roof covering applied during an addition, alteration or repair to an existing structure shall meet at least a Class A fire classification.

(Added by Ord. No. 10977 (N.S.), effective 4-2-26)

Section 602 of the California WUI Code is revised to read:

considerations of location, topography, aspect, climatic and fire history.

The plan shall identify conformance with all applicable state wildfire protection regulations, statutes and applicable local ordinances, whichever are more restrictive.

The plan shall address fire department access, egress, road and address signage, water supply in addition to fuel reduction in accordance with Public Resources Code (PRC) 4290; the defensible space requirements in accordance with PRC 4291 or Government Code 51182; and the applicable building codes and standards for wildfire safety. The plan shall identify mitigation measures to address the project's specific wildfire risk and shall include the information required in Sections 602.3 through 602.3.2.

and/or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones as identified in the map adopted by the State Fire Marshal or Fire District. A Fire Protection Plan is also required for large projects (an occupant load of 100 or more) or where the site has topographic, geographic, and/or combustible vegetation conditions that require detailed review and analysis, regardless of Fire Hazard Severity Zone, as determined by the code official.

The Fire Protection Plan for a discretionary project shall be prepared in accordance with the 2024 County of San Diego Fire Protection Plan Guidelines, and the preparer (consultant) must be on the County of San Diego CEQA Consultants List for Privately Initiated Projects for Fire Protection Planning.

(Added by Ord. No. 10977 (N.S.), effective 4-2-26)

Section 603 of the California WUI Code is revised to read:

structure and to maintain vegetation as it matures.

(LRA) designated as a Fire Hazard Severity Zone shall comply with Sections 603.3 through 603.4.2.1.

Section 604 of the California WUI Code is revised to read:

exposure to buildings and to reduce the risk of fire spreading to buildings as required by applicable laws and regulations.

Defensible space shall be managed around all buildings and structures in State Responsibility Areas (SRA) as required in Public Resources Code 4291. Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) as required in Government Code Section 51182 or as amended by FAHJ or by section 604.6 Fuel Modification.

vegetation and fuel management:

1. All unincorporated lands designated as a State Responsibility Area (SRA) or Local Responsibility Areas (LRA).

2. Land designated as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone by a city or local agency.

3. Land as a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) area in ordinance by a city or local agency.

accordance with the following laws and regulations:

1. Public Resources Code, Section 4291.

2. California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 3, Article 3, Section 1299.03.

3. California Government Code, Section 51182.

4. California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 7, Subchapter 1, Section 3.07.

directions. Vegetation more than 10 feet (3048 mm) but less than 20 feet (6096 mm) from outbuildings shall be fire-smart vegetation.

the local jurisdiction, in consultation with the fire authority, of flammable vegetation and fuels caused by site construction, road and driveway construction shall be in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. [CCR T14 §1276.05]

human habitation or use, or a building designed specifically to house farm animals. Decks, sheds, gazebos, freestanding open-sided shade covers and similar accessory structures less than 120 square feet and 50 feet or more from a dwelling, and fences more than 5 feet from a dwelling, are not considered structures for the establishment of a fuel modification zone. A fuel modification zone shall comply with the following:

(a) When a building or structure in a hazardous fire area is located 100 feet or more from the property line, the person owning or occupying the building or structure shall maintain a fuel modification zone within 100 feet of the building or structure. See Sec. 604.12 "Home Ignition Zones" See Annex D for "Fuel Modification".

(b) The fire code official may increase the fuel modification zone more than the 100 foot minimum if fuel and/or topography are determined to increase the fire hazard severity.

(c) When a building or structure in a hazardous fire area is setback less than 100 feet from the property line, the person owning or occupying the building or structure shall meet the requirements in subsection (a) above, to the extent possible, in the area between the building or structure and the property line.

(d) The building official and the FAHJ may provide lists of prohibited and recommended plants.

(e) The fuel modification zone shall be located entirely on the subject property unless approved by the FAHJ. This required fuel modification zone may be reduced as allowed in subsection (c) above or increased as required by a fire protection plan.

(f) When the subject property contains an area designated to protect biological or other sensitive habitat or resource, no building or other structure requiring a fuel modification zone shall be located so as to extend the fuel modification zone into a protected area.

(g) Improved Property: Property owners shall be permitted to clear all combustible vegetation within a one hundred (100) foot radius of all buildings and structures using methods, such as mowing and trimming that leave plant root structure intact to stabilize soil. Clearing is not limited to these methods and discing, which exposes bare mineral soil, may be used if deemed necessary by the FAHJ.

a. Where the distance from the structure to the property line of the parcel on which the building is located is less than

the distance required to be cleared, (100'), the adjacent parcel owner may be required to establish the required fuel break to achieve the required distance of defensible space if such requirement is approved by the Fire Code Official.

(h) Unimproved Property: The owner and/or responsible party of any vacant parcel 1 acre or less in size located within the District shall, at all times, maintain the vacant parcel in compliance with the standards in the section. Any parcel that does not comply with the requirements of this section is hereby declared to be a public nuisance.

a. All weeds, grasses, or similar ground vegetation shall be cleared or trimmed and maintained at a height not exceeding 4" inches. Vegetation must be maintained through methods such as mowing, thinning, trimming or by other means that leave the plant root structure intact to stabilize the soil.

b. All dead, dying, or diseased vegetation shall be removed.

c. Vacant parcels that are located adjacent to a roadway shall comply with the defensible space requirements set forth

in Section 604.7.

d. Vacant parcels that are located adjacent to an improved parcel shall comply with defensible space requirements in

Section 604.6 (g) as measured from the improvement on the improved parcel.

AMENDMENT TO SECTION 604.6

San Marcos Fire Protection District adopts the following code amendment:

adjoining a hazardous fire area, and a person owning, leasing or controlling land adjacent to a building or structure in or adjoining a hazardous fire area shall maintain an effective fuel modification zone by removing, clearing or modifying combustible vegetation and other flammable materials from areas within 150 feet from each building or structure. The fuel modification zone may be replanted with either approved irrigated, fire-resistant planting material or approved non- irrigated, drought-tolerant, fire-resistant plant material. Replanting of the fuel modification zone may be required for erosion control. Exceptions:

1. Single specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery or similar plants used as ground cover, provided that they do not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from the native growth to any structure.
2. Grass and other vegetation located more than 30 feet from a building or structure and less than 18 inches in height need not be removed where necessary to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
3. With the approval of the FAHJ, the width of the fuel modification zone may be reduced where ignition-resistant structures or other features are constructed. However, in no case shall the fuel modification zone be reduced to less than 100 feet. This exception shall not be construed to allow the FAHJ to require ignition-resistant construction on an existing structure with a fuel modification zone of less than 100 feet.

ADDITION TO SECTION 604.7 (Deer Springs)

The Deer Springs Fire Protection District adopt the following code amendment:

designated in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

owner to modify combustible vegetation in the area within 20 feet from each side of the driveway or a public or private road adjacent to the property to establish a fuel modification zone. The FAHJ has the right to enter private property to ensure the fuel modification zone requirements are met.

Exception: The FAHJ may reduce the width of the fuel modification zone if it will not impair access.

maintaining a building or structure required to establish a fuel modification zone pursuant to Sec. 604.6 shall maintain the defensible space. The FAHJ may enter the property to determine if the person responsible is complying with this section. The FAHJ may issue an order to the person responsible for maintaining the defensible space directing the person to modify or remove non-fire resistant vegetation from defensible space areas, remove leaves, needles and other dead vegetative material from the roof of a building, maintain trees as required by Sec. 604.3.2 or to take other action the FAHJ determines is necessary to comply with the intent of sections 604 et seq.

10 feet for fire resistant trees and 30 feet for non-fire resistive trees. Mature trees shall be pruned to remove limbs to maintain a vertical separation of three times the height of the lower vegetation or 6 feet, whichever is greater, above the ground surface adjacent to the trees. Dead wood and litter shall be regularly removed from trees. Ornamental trees shall be limited to groupings of 2-3 trees with canopies for each grouping separated horizontally as described in Table 604.9.

TABLE 604.9

DISTANCE BETWEEN TREE CANOPIES

Distance between Tree Canopies by Percent Slope

Required Distances Between Edge of Mature Tree

Percent of Slope Canopies (1)

0 to 20 10 feet 21 to 40 20 feet 41 plus 30 feet

1. Determined from canopy dimensions as described in Sunset Western Garden Book (Current Edition)

The Alpine, Deer Springs, Rancho Santa Fe, Rincon Del Diablo, San Marcos, San Miguel, Valley Center, Vista Fire Protection Districts adopt the following code amendment:

of combustible debris and vegetation, including dead or downed trees. A 10-foot firebreak shall be cleared around the perimeter of any orchard, grove or vineyard. Dead grasses between rows of trees or vines shall be mowed.

The Rancho Santa Fe, Rincon Del Diablo, and San Miguel Fire Protection Districts adopt the following code amendment:

maintained as described below. The forest or woodlands shall be free of all dead, dying, or diseased trees (excluding tree stumps no higher than six inches above the ground). Dead, dying, or diseased trees shall include insect infested trees, no longer living, in the last stages of growth or infected by a pathogen of any type. If combustible vegetation is located underneath a tree's drip line, the lowest branch shall be at least three times as high as the understory brush or grasses, or ten feet, whichever is greater. This will reduce the build-up of "ladder" fuels. Firewood shall be neatly stacked and shall have a minimum of 30 feet of clearance (no vegetation) around the entire firewood storage area. Debris and trimmings produced by the removal process shall be removed from the site, or if left, shall be converted into mulch by a chipping machine and evenly dispersed to maximum depth of six inches.

Section 607 of the California WUI Code is revised to read:

structures, or on decks or under eaves, canopies or other projections or overhangs. Firewood piles shall be located 30 feet or more from structures unless completely covered by a fire-resistant material. Exposed wood piles located within the defensible space shall have a minimum clearance of ten feet (3048 mm) down to bare mineral soil in all directions.

AMENDMENT TO SECTION 607.1 Zones 1 and 2

The San Diego County Fire Protection District adopts the following code amendment:

and 2 are defined in section 604.12. (a) Requirements Applicable to Zone 1: Firewood and other combustible material shall not be stored unless completely covered in a fire-resistant container or enclosure. (b) Requirements Applicable to Zone 2: Firewood and other combustible material shall be located at least 50 feet from any structure. (c) Requirements Applicable to Both Zones 1 and 2: Firewood and other combustible material shall not be stored in unenclosed space beneath a building or structure, on a deck or under eaves, a canopy or other projection or overhang, and shall be separated by a minimum of 15 feet from the drip line of any trees, measured horizontally. Firewood and combustible materials not for use on the premises shall be stored so as to not pose a fire hazard. Wood storage shall be located on bare soil or a non-combustible material. Minimum clearance around wood storage pile shall be 10' bare soil, free of vegetation or other combustible material measured on a horizontal plane. The maximum size of wood storage shall be 2 cords of woods with the pile dimensions no greater than 4 feet in height, 4 feet in width, and 16 feet in length. Exception: Permit may be issued by the FAHJ for wood storage amounts in excess of this section.

stored so as to not pose a hazard. See Appendix A.

(Added by Ord. No. 10977 (N.S.), effective 4-2-26)