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Summary of California
State Fire Prevention Laws.
From California
Codes, Public Resources Code, Section 4291-4299
Fire Hazard
Reduction: Clearances Around Structures
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A person that owns, leases,
controls, operates, or maintains a building or structure in, upon, or adjoining
any mountainous area, forest-covered lands, brush-covered lands, grass-covered
lands, or any land that is covered with flammable material, shall at all times
do all of the following:
- Maintain around and adjacent
to the building or structure a firebreak made by removing and clearing
away, for a distance of not less than 30 feet on each side of the building
or structure or to the property line, whichever is nearer, all flammable vegetation
or other combustible growth. This subdivision does not apply to single specimens
of trees, ornamental shrubbery, or similar plants that are used as ground
cover, if they do not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from the native
growth to any building or structure.
- Maintain around and adjacent
to the building or structure additional fire protection or firebreak made
by removing all brush, flammable vegetation, or combustible growth that is
located within 100 feet from the building or structure or to the property
line or at a greater distance if required by state law, or local ordinance,
rule, or regulation. This section does not prevent an insurance company that
insures a building or structure from requiring the owner of the building or
structure to maintain a firebreak of more than 100 feet around the
building or structure. Grass and other vegetation located more than 30 feet
from the building or structure and less than 18 inches in height above the
ground may be maintained where necessary to stabilize the soil and prevent
erosion.
- Remove that portion of
any tree which extends within 10 feet of the outlet of any chimney or stovepipe.
- Maintain any tree adjacent
to or overhanging any building free of dead or dying wood.
- Maintain the roof of
any structure free of leaves, needles, or other dead vegetative growth.
- Provide and maintain
at all times a screen over the outlet of every chimney or stovepipe that is
attached to any fireplace;, stove, or other device that burns any solid or
liquid fuel. The screen shall be constructed of nonflammable material with
openings of not more than one-half inch in size.
- The Director may adopt
regulations exempting structures with exteriors constructed entirely of nonflammable
materials, or conditioned upon the contents and composition of same, he may
vary the requirements respecting the removing or clearing away of flammable
vegetation or other combustible growth with respect to the area surrounding
said structures.
No such exemption or variance
shall apply unless and until the occupant thereof, or if there be no occupant,
than the owner thereof, files with the State Forester, such form as the Director
shall prescribe, a written consent to the inspection of the interior and contents
of such structure to ascertain whether the provisions here of and the regulations
adopted hereunder are complied with at all times. (PRC 4291)
Click
here for Complete California Code, section 4291-4299
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2005 Nevada County Brush Clearing & Hauling. All Rights Reserved. Duplication
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