Sonoma County Municipal Code § 13-56 Flammable vegetation clearance areas for roads and driveways

This division establishes minimum fuel modification requirements to reduce the possibility and intensity of a wildfire, to provide increased safety for emergency fire equipment, personnel and evacuating civilians, and to provide a point of attack against or defense from a wildfire.

(Ord. No. 6318, § I, 8-11-2020)

State Law reference— California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 1-5, SRA Fire Safe Regulations, 1276.00

(a) On all parcels located in the state responsibility area, all new buildings and accessory buildings shall have setbacks to the property line and/or exterior wall protection according 14 CCR 1276.01.

(Ord. No. 6318, § I, 8-11-2020)

State Law reference— California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 1-5, SRA Fire Safe Regulations, 1276.01.

All roads and driveways shall have a flammable vegetation clearance area on each side of the road or driveway of not less than ten feet (10') unless otherwise authorized by the fire prevention division of permit and resource management.

(Ord. No. 6318, § I, 8-11-2020)

State Law reference— California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 1-5, SRA Fire Safe Regulations, 1276.02

All electric utility companies shall make every reasonable effort to select routes and types of conductors that minimize the risk of fire when installing new overhead electric utilities.

(Ord. No. 6318, § I, 8-11-2020)

State Law reference— California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 1-5, SRA Fire Safe Regulations, 1276.03.

All disposal, including chipping, burying, burning or removal to a landfill site, of flammable vegetation and fuels caused by site development and construction, road and driveway construction, or fuel modification shall be completed prior to completion of road or driveway construction, or foundation inspection for a building permit, whichever occurs first.

(Ord. No. 6318, § I, 8-11-2020)

State Law reference— California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 1-5, SRA Fire Safe Regulations, 1276.03

Any development which designates a facility or land use as a greenbelt shall locate the greenbelt strategically, as a separation between wildland fuels and buildings. The director of permit and resource management shall approve the location of any greenbelt.

(Ord. No. 6318, § I, 8-11-2020)

State Law reference— California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 1-5, SRA Fire Safe Regulations, 1276.04

(a) A fire protection plan shall be required for any new residential or commercial building within a state responsibility area (SRA) located in a high and very high severity zone. The plan shall be prepared by a qualified professional and shall be approved by the county fire warden/fire marshal. The plan shall include, at a minimum, defensible space zones, identification of vegetation types, replacement of non-native flammable vegetation with approved fire-resistive vegetation, and a maintenance program for all vegetation. When required by the code official, the property owner shall record a covenant, in a form satisfactory to county counsel, which ensures that the approved plan will be implemented and maintained.

(b) The fire protection plan shall be based upon a site-specific wildfire risk assessment that includes considerations of location, topography, aspect, flammable vegetation, climatic conditions and fire history. The plan shall address water supply, access, building ignition and fire-resistance factors, fire protection systems and equipment, defensible space and vegetation management.

(c) A copy of the fire protection plan shall be retained by the property owner.

(d) The cost of fire protection plan preparation and review shall be the responsibility of the applicant. All existing buildings shall meet the requirements of Public Resources Code (PRC 4291) for defensible space.

(e) All existing buildings shall meet the requirements of the California Fire Code, Chapter 49, Section 4906 and 4907.

(Ord. No. 6318, § I, 8-11-2020)

State Law reference— California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 1-5, SRA Fire Safe Regulations, 1276.01.

All structures regulated by the county building code shall have roof coverings that comply with the requirements of Chapter 7 of this code.

(Ord. No. 6318, § I, 8-11-2020)