Year-round fire season: LAFD's brush clearance requirements
*PLEASE WATCH THE FOLLOWING VIDEOS FOR BRUSH CLEARANCE INFORMATION*
*NEW BRUSH CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR LOS ANGELES*
The state of California has seen an increase in frequency and size of wild fires, including historic brushfires in the city of Los Angeles such as the La Tuna, Creek, and Skirball fires. Additionally, smaller brushfires have been accidentally started by well intentioned residents performing brush clearance. Therefore, Los Angeles City Council has approved an ordinance to increase requirements for brush clearance and fire safety in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ). This ordinance establishes appropriate safety measures necessary to mitigate the occurrence of such fires.
Highlights of the new ordinance include:
Use of metal cutting blades for grass or brush clearance shall be limited to those which are non-ferrous/non-sparking.
Brush clearance cannot be done on red flag days, when fire weather conditions are at their peak.
Individuals engaged in brush clearance operations shall not engage in any other activities during their actual clearance of grass or brush.
An approved fire extinguisher, or a pressurized garden hose with attached nozzle shall be within 10 feet of any grass or brush clearance operation, to quickly extinguish a small fire before it burns out of control.
A cell phone capable of dialing 9-1-1 shall be charged and readily accessible to the grass or brush clearance operation.
Read the full Ordinance here. It is effective now.
Revised – February 9, 2017
CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS
Owners of property located in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) shall maintain their property in accordance with the Fire Code (L.A.M.C. 57.322). Year-round compliance shall be maintained as described below on all native brush, weeds, grass, trees and hazardous vegetation within 200 feet of any structures/buildings, whether those structures are on the owner’s property or adjoining properties, and within 10 feet of any combustible fence or roadway/driveway used for vehicular travel.
1. Areas within 200 feet of structures and/or 10 feet of roadside surfaces or combustible fence: Grass shall be cut to three inches in height. Native brush shall be reduced in quantity to three inches in height. This does not apply to individual native shrubs spaced a minimum of 18 feet apart, provided such shrubs are trimmed up from the ground to 1/3 of their height with all dead material being removed (see diagram below).
2. For trees taller than 18 feet, trim lower branches so no foliage is within six feet of the ground, and remove all dead material. For trees and shrubs less than 18 feet, remove lower branches to 1/3 of their height, and remove all dead material (see diagram below).
3. Trees shall be trimmed up so the foliage is no closer than 10 feet from the outlet of a chimney (see diagram below).
4. All roof surfaces shall be maintained free of substantial accumulation of leaves, needles, twigs and any other combustible matter. Maintain five feet of vertical clearance between roof surfaces and portions of overhanging trees (see diagram below).
5. All cut vegetation and debris shall be removed in a legal manner. Cut vegetation may be machine processed (i.e.,chipped) and spread back onto the property at a depth not to exceed three inches within 30 feet of structures and six inches beyond 30 feet of structures. In addition, spread material shall not be placed within 10 feet of any usable roadside (in accordance with Fire Prevention Bureau Procedure No. 25)
The above general requirements also apply to landscape vegetation.
To Review ALL Enforceable Brush Clearance requirements, visit VMS3.lafd.org "Clearance Requirement."
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT IS A YEAR-ROUND RESPONSIBILITY
Clear Early, Clear Often.
Click here to visit LAFD’s brush clearance requirements page.
