Any person owning, leasing, controlling, operating, or maintaining any building or structure upon or adjoining any grass- or brush-covered land or land covered with flammable growth, and any person owning, leasing, or controlling any land adjacent to such structures, shall at all times:

Maintain around and adjacent to such building, structure, or apiary an effective fire protection or firebreak made by removing and clearing away, for a distance of not less than 30 feet on each side thereof, all flammable vegetation or other combustible growth. This includes ornamental plants and trees known to be flammable, including but not limited to: Acacia, Cedar, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Juniper, Pine, and Pampas Grass.

Exceptions

1. Ornamental plants and trees that are individually planted, spaced, and maintained in such a manner that they do not form a means of transmitting fire from native growth to the structure.
2. Cultivated ground cover such as green grass, ivy, succulents, or similar plants provided that they are maintained in a condition that does not form a means of transmitting fire from native growth to the structure.
3. Maintain any tree adjacent to or overhanging any building or structure free of dead wood.
4. Maintain the roof of any building or structure free of leaves, needles, or other dead vegetative growth.

When the fire code official finds that because of extra hazardous conditions, a firebreak of only 30 feet around such building or structure is not sufficient to provide reasonable fire safety, the person owning, leasing, controlling, operating, or maintaining the building or structure shall maintain around or adjacent to any building or structure an additional fire protection or firebreak made by removing all brush, flammable vegetation, or combustible growth located from 30 to 100 feet from such building or structure, as may be required by the fire code official. Grass and other vegetation located more than 30 feet from such 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.

The fire code official may require removal and clearance of all flammable vegetation or other combustible growth for a minimum of 10 feet on each side of every roadway, whether public or private. The fire code official may enter upon private property to inspect, remove and clear vegetation and growth as required by this section and may charge the responsible party for the cost of such action. This section shall not apply to single specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery, or cultivated ground cover such as green grass, ivy, succulents, or similar plants used as ground cover, provided that they do not form a means of readily transmitting fire. As used in this section, “roadway” means that portion of a highway, private street, or paved trail improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel. The minimum clearance of 10 feet may be increased if the fire code official determines additional distance is required to provide reasonable fire safety.

A fuel modification plan package shall be submitted and have preliminary approval prior to any subdivision of land, and have final approval prior to the issuance of a permit for any new construction, remodeling, modification or reconstruction of any enclosed structure where the structure or subdivision is located within areas designated as a Very High or High Fire Hazard Severity Zone in the State Responsibility Areas or Very High Hazard Severity Zone in the Local Responsibility Areas as designated in the applicable Hazard Zone maps at the time of application.

All notices to clear flammable vegetation and other combustible growth for shall be in writing and shall be in accordance with Folsom Municipal Code Chapter 8.37.

The procedures for the abatement of hazardous vegetation and penalties thereof shall be in accordance with Folsom Municipal Code Chapter 8.37.

For information regarding City of Folsom-owned properties, visit the Folsom Parks & Recreation Open Space and Weed Abatement Schedule page.