10 Attachment 4 -Chapter 9 redline ATTACHMENT 4
CHAPTER 9
FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
Chapter 9 of the 2019 California Fire Code and 2018 International Fire Code is adopted
with the following amendments:
CHAPTER 49
REQUIREMENTS FOR WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AREAS
Chapter 49 of the 2019 California Fire Code is adopted with the following amendments:
Section 4901 General
4901.1 Scope
The mitigation of conditions where a wildfire burning in vegetative fuels may readily transmit
fire to buildings and threaten to destroy life, overwhelm fire suppression capabilities, or result
in large property loses shall comply with this chapter.
4901.2 Purpose
The purpose of this code is to provide minimum standards to increase the ability of a building
to resist the intrusion of flame or burning embers being projected by a vegetation fire and
contributes to a systematic reduction in conflagration losses through the use of performance
and prescriptive requirements.
Section 4902 Definitions
4902.1 General
For the purpose of this chapter, certain terms are defined as follows:
CDF DIRECTOR. Director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The following definition is added as follows:
DEFENSIBLE SPACE. An area around the perimeter of a structure in which vegetation, debris,
and other types of combustible fuels are treated, cleared, or reduced to slow the rate and
intensity of potentially approaching wildfire or fire escaping from structure(s).
FIRE PROTECTION PLAN. A document prepared for a specific project or development proposed
for a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area. It describes ways to minimize and mitigate potential
for loss from wildfire exposure.
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The Fire Protection Plan shall be in accordance with this Article. When required b y the
enforcing agency for the purposes of granting modifications, a fire protection plan shall be
submitted. Only locally adopted ordinances that have been filed with the California Building
Standards Commission in accordance with Section 101.14 or the Department of Housing and
Community Development in accordance with Section 101.15 shall apply.
FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES. Geographical areas designated pursuant to California Public
Resources Codes, Sections 4201 through 4204 and classified as Very High, High, or Moderate in
State Responsibility Areas or as Local Agency Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones designated
pursuant to California Government Code, Sections 51175 through 51189.
The California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 1280 entitles the maps of these
geographical areas as “Maps of the Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the State Responsibility Area
of California.”
LOCAL AGENCY VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE. An area designated by a local agency
upon the recommendation of the CDF Director pursuant to Government Code, Sections
51177(c), 51178 and 5118, that is not a state responsibility area and where a local agency, city,
county, city and county, or district is responsible for fire protection.
The following definition is added as follows:
REDUCED FUEL ZONE. In this area of the defensible space, efforts are placed on ensuring
fuels/vegetation are separated vertically and horizontally depending on the vegetation type.
STATE RESPONSIBILITY AREA. Lands that are classified by the Board of Forestry pursuant to
Public Resources Code Section 4125 where the financial responsibility of preventing and
suppressing forest fires is primarily the responsibility of the state.
WILDFIRE. Any uncontrolled fire spreading through vegetative fuels that threatens to destroy
life, property, or resources as defined in Public Resources Code, Sections 4103 and 4104.
WILDFIRE EXPOSURE. One or a combination of radiant heat, convective heat, direct flame
contact and burning embers being projected by vegetation fire to a structure and its immediate
environment.
Amend the following definition as follows:
Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area. A geographical area identified by the state as a " Fire
Hazard Severity Zone" in accordance with the Public Resources Code , Sections 4201
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through 4204, and Government Code Sections 51175 through 51189, or other areas
designated by the enforcing agency to be at a significant risk from wildfires . The Wildland-
Urban Interface Fire Area is defined as all areas within the Town of Los Gatos as set forth and
delineated on the map entitled "Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area" which map and all
notations, references, data, and other information shown thereon are hereby adopted and
made a part of this chapter. The map properly attested, shall be on file in the Office of the
Town Clerk of the Town of Los Gatos.
Section 4903 Plans (Reserved)
Section 4904 Fire Hazard Severity Zones
4904.1 General
Lands in the state are classified by the CDF Director in accordance with the severity of wildfire
hazard expected to prevail in those areas and the responsibility for fire protection, so that
measures may be identified which will reduce the potential for losses to life, property, and
resources from wildfire.
4904.2 Classifications
The CDF Director classifies lands into fire hazard severity zones in accordance with California
Public Resources Code, Sections 4201 through 4204 for State Responsibility Areas and
accordance with Government Code, Sections 51175 through 51189 for areas where a local
agency is responsible for fire protection.
Section 4905 Wildfire Protection Building Construction
4905.1 General
Materials and construction methods for exterior wildfire exposure protection shall be applied
within geographical areas where a wildfire burning in vegetative fuels may readily transmit fire
to buildings and threaten to destroy life, overwhelm fire suppression capabilities, or result in
large property losses
4905.2 Construction methods and requirements within established limits
Within the limits established by law, construction methods intended to mitigate wildfire
exposure shall comply with the wildfire protection building construction requirements
contained in the California Building Standards Code, including the following:
1. California Building Code, Chapter 7A,
2. California Residential Code, Section R327,
3. California Referenced Standards Code, Chapter 12-7A.
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4905.3 Establishment of limits
The establishment of limits for the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area’s required construction
methods shall be designated pursuant to the California Public Resources Code for State
Responsibility areas or by a local agency following a finding supported by substantial evidence
in the record that the requirements of this section are necessary for effective fire protection
within the area.
Section 4906 Hazardous Vegetation and Fuel Management
4906.1 General
Hazardous vegetation and fuels shall be managed to reduce the severity of potential exterior
wildfire exposure to buildings and to reduce the risk of fire spreading to buildings as required
by applicable laws and regulations.
4906.2 Application.
Buildings and structures located in the following areas shall maintain the required hazardous
vegetation and fuel management:
1. All unincorporated lands designated by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection as
State Responsibility Areas (SRA) including:
1.1 Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones
1.2 High Fire Hazard Severity Zones
1.3 Very-high Fire Hazard Severity Zones
4906.2 is amended as follows:
2. Land designated as a Very-high Fire Hazard Severity Zone by cities or other local agencies. or as
a Wildland Urban Interface Fire Area by the Town of Los Gatos.
4906.3 Requirements
Hazardous vegetation and fuels around all applicable buildings and structures shall be
maintained in accordance with the following laws and regulations:
1. Public Resources Code, Section 4291.
2. California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 3, Section
1299 (see guidance for implementation “General Guideline to Create Defensible
Space”).
3. California Government Code, Section 51182.
4. California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 7, Subchapter 1, Section
3.07.
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Section 4907 Defensible Space
4907.1 General.
Defensible space will be maintained around all buildings and structures in State Responsibility
Area (SRA) as required in Public Resources Code 4290 and "SRA Fire Safe Regulations" California
Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Section 1270.
Buildings and structures within the Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zones of a Local
Responsibility Area (LRA) shall maintain defensible space as outlined in Government Code
51175 - 51189 and any local ordinance of the authority having jurisdiction.
Section 4907.2 is added as follows:
4907.2 Defensible Space Fuel Modification.
Persons owning, leasing, controlling, operating, or maintaining buildings or structures, and/or
lands in, upon, or adjoining the locally adopted Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area, shall at all
times comply with the following :
1. Maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of any
building or structure, but not beyond the property line except as provided by law. The 100
feet of defensible space should be segregated into the following zones:
a. Maintain an effective defensible space by removing and clearing away
flammable vegetation and other combustible materials from areas within 30
feet of such buildings or structures.
Exception: When approved by the Fire Chief or his/her designee, s ingle
specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery or similar plants used as ground
covers, provided that they do not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire
from the native growth to any structure.
b. Maintain an additional reduced fuel zone of 70 feet from all buildings and
structures with an emphasis on vertical and horizontal separation of
fuels/vegetation. Distances beyond an additional 70 feet may be required
when the Fire Chief or his/her designee, determines that due to steepness of
terrain or other conditions, 70 additional feet is insufficient.
Exception: When approved by the Fire Chief or his/her designee grass and other
vegetation located more than 30 feet from buildings or structures and less than
18 inches in height above the ground need not be removed where necessary to
stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
c. New construction must create a noncombustible area a minimum of 5 feet
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from structures.
2. Remove portions of trees, which extend within 10 feet of the outlet of any chimney or
stovepipe.
3. Maintain any tree, shrub, or other plant adjacent to or overhanging any building or
structure free of dead limbs, branches or other combustible material.
4. Maintain the roof of any structure and roof gutters free of leaves, needles, or other
combustible materials.
5. Maintain defensible space as determined by the Fire Chief or his/her designee around
water tank structures, water supply pumps, and pump houses.
6. Remove flammable vegetation a minimum of 10 feet around liquefied petroleum gas
tanks/containers.
7. Firewood and combustible materials shall not be stored in unenclosed spaces beneath
buildings or structures, or on decks or under eaves, canopies or other projections or
overhangs. The storage of firewood and combustible material within the defensible
space shall be located a minimum of 30 feet from structures and separated from the
crown of trees by a minimum horizontal distance of 15 feet.
Exception: Firewood and combustible materials not for consumption on the premises
shall be stored as approved by the Fire Chief or his/her designee.
8. Clear areas within 10 feet of fire apparatus access roads and driveways of non- fire-
resistive vegetation growth.
Exception: Single specimens of trees, ornamental vegetative fuels or cultivated ground
cover, such as green grass, ivy, succulents, or similar plants used as ground cover,
provided they do not form a means of readily transmitting fire.
Section 4907.3 is added as follows:
4907.3 Defensible space along property lines . Pursuant to Government Code Section
51182 and Public Resources Code Section 4291(a)(2):
1. When an occupied building is less than 100 feet from a property line and combustible
vegetation on an adjacent parcel presents a fire hazard for the occupied building as
determined by the Fire Chief or his/her designee th en the owner of the adjacent parcel
where the hazard exists shall be responsible for fuel management, including removal to
the satisfaction of the Fire Chief or his/her designee .
Section 4907.4 is added as follows:
4907.4 Corrective actions. When the Fire Chief or his/her designee determines defensible
space to be inadequate the Town Council is authorized to instruct the Fire Chief or his/her
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designee to give notice to the owner of the property upon which conditions regulated by
Sections 4907.2 and 4907.3 exist to correct such conditions. If the owner fails to correct
such conditions, the Town Council is authorized to cause the same to be done and make
the expense of such correction a lien upon the property where such conditions exist.