Vista Municipal Code § 603.4 Vegetation. All new vegetation shall be drought tolerant and fire-smart

vegetation in accordance with this section.

Exception: Trees classified as nonfire- smart vegetation complying with Section 603.4.2.1. To be considered fire-smart vegetation, it must meet at least one of the following: 1. Be identified as fire-smart vegetation in an approved book, journal, or listing from an approved organization. 2. Be identified as fire-smart vegetation by a licensed landscape architect with supporting justification. 3. Plants considered fire-smart vegetation and approved by the local enforcing agency.

1. Shrubs shall not exceed 6 feet (1,829 mm) in height. 2. Groupings of shrubs are limited to a maximum aggregate diameter of 10 feet ( 3,048 mm). 3. Shrub groupings shall be separated from other groupings a minimum of 15 feet (4,572 mm). 4. Shrub groupings shall be separated from structures a minimum of 30 feet (9,144 mm). 5. 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 (3,048 mm), whichever is greater. 6. Ornamental grasses shall be planted a minimum 5 feet from any structure.

mm) of a structure: 1. 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. 2. The horizontal distance between crowns of new trees and crowns of adjacent trees shall not be less than 10 feet (3048 mm). 3. Existing trees shall be trimmed to provide a minimum separation of 10 feet (3048 mm) away from roof lines, barbecues, fire pits, other heat or flame producing devices, chimney and stovepipe outlets per California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 1299.03. 4. For streetscape plantings, all non-fire resistive trees shall be planted so that the center of the tree trunk is 20 feet from edge of curb. Fire resistive trees may be planted 10 feet from edge of curb to center of tree trunk.

vegetation, such as conifers, junipers, cypress, palms with fibrous tissues, pepper trees, acacia species, bamboo species and eucalyptus species, and other species not deemed fire smart shall be permitted provided the tree is planted and maintained in accordance with one of the following: 1. The tree is planted so that the tree's drip line at maturity is a minimum of 50 feet (15240 mm) from an applicable building.

16.42(14) ( Vista 10/24/2025)

Vista Municipal Code

SEC. 604 MAINTENANCE OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE

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