General Requirements

San Diego Municipal Code ch. 5, art. 11, div. 3

in effect

San Diego Municipal Code § 511.0304 Combustible Waste Material

§511.0304 Combustible Waste Material (a) Local Amendment. Section 304.1.3, Vegetation, is amended to read as follows: Weeds, grass, vines or other growth that is capable of being ignited and endangering property, shall be cut down and removed by the owner or occupant of the premises. Vegetation clearance requirements in Wildland-Urban Interface Areas shall be in accordance with the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code. (b) Local Addition. Section 304.1.3.1, Clearance of brush and vegetative growth from roadways, is added as follows: The Fire Code Official is authorized to require areas within 20 feet (6096 mm) on each side of portions of fire apparatus access roads and driveways to be cleared of non-fire-resistive vegetation growth, with the exception: of single specimens of trees, ornamental vegetative fuels or cultivated ground cover, such as green grass, ivy, succulents or similar plants used for ground cover, provided they do not form a means of readily transmitting fire. (c) Local Addition. Section 304.13.2, Waste material, is added as follows: Waste material shall not be placed, deposited, or dumped in Wildland-Urban Interface Areas, or in, on, or along trails, roadways, or highways or against structures in Wildland-Urban Interface Areas. (“Combustible Waste Material” added 1-27-2022 by O-21409 N.S.; effective 2-26-2022.) (Amended 3-7-2023 by O-21614 N.S.; effective 4-6-2023.) (Amended 1-29-2026 by O-22043 N.S.; effective 2-28-2026.)

San Diego Municipal Code § 511.0307 Open Burning, Recreational Fires and Portable Outdoor Fireplaces

§511.0307 Open Burning, Recreational Fires and Portable Outdoor Fireplaces (a) Local Amendment. Section 307.4.1, Bonfires, is amended to read as follows: A bonfire shall not be conducted within 50 feet (15 240 mm) of a structure or combustible material unless the fire is contained in a barbecue pit. Conditions which could cause a fire to spread within 50 feet (15 240 mm) of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition, with the following exceptions. (1) Fires in beach areas shall be maintained in accordance with San Diego Municipal Code section 63.20.5. (2) Fires are not permitted in public parks except as provided in San Diego Municipal Code section 63.0102(c)(11). (b) Local Amendment. Section 307.4.3, Portable outdoor fireplaces, is amended to read as follows: Portable outdoor fireplaces shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, provided with a spark arrestor, and shall not be operated within 15 feet (4572 mm) of a structure or combustible material, with the following exceptions. (1) Portable outdoor fireplaces used at one and two-family dwellings located outside of a Wildland-Urban Interface Area, when used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. (2) Portable outdoor fireplaces used at one and two-family dwellings located within a Wildland-Urban Interface Area, when such portable outdoor fireplaces are located at least 15 feet (4572 mm) from a structure, combustible material or vegetation. Such outdoor fireplaces shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. (c) Local Addition. Section 307.4.4, “Red-Flag” Warning and other high fire risk conditions, is added as follows: Open burning, including recreational fires and fires within portable outdoor fireplaces, shall not be permitted when a Red-Flag Warning or a Fire Weather Watch condition has been issued by the National Weather Service, except for fires in beach areas complying with San Diego Municipal Code section 63.20.5. (“Open Burning, Recreational Fires and Portable Outdoor Fireplaces” added 1-27-2022 by O-21409 N.S.; effective 2-26-2022.) (Amended 1-13-2023 by O-21606 N.S.; effective 2-12-2023.) (Amended 3-7-2023 by O-21614 N.S.; effective 4-6-2023.) (Amended 1-29-2026 by O-22043 N.S.; effective 2-28-2026.)

San Diego Municipal Code § 511.0322 Powered Micromobility Devices

§511.0322 Powered Micromobility Devices (a) Local Addition. Section 322.6, Sales Prohibited, is added as follows: The sale, rental, leasing, storage, repair, modification, or assembly of lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries not listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, including associated equipment and charging devices, shall be prohibited in the City of San Diego. Any modifications made to a listed battery or associated equipment shall void the listing. (b) Local Addition. Section 322.6.1, Documentation, is added as follows: Retailers, resellers, and distributors of lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries must: (1) Display visible proof of the applicable listing from a nationally recognized testing laboratory on each device or battery offered for sale, rental, or lease. (2) Provide documentation of the applicable listing upon request to consumers or the Fire Code Official. (3) Conspicuously post San Diego Fire-Rescue Department safety guidelines regarding lithium-ion battery use, storage, and charging practices at all physical retail locations and online storefronts. (c) Local Addition. Section 322.6.2, Modifications Prohibited, is added as follows: The reconditioning, modification, or assembly of non-listed or previously used lithium-ion battery cells into new battery packs or devices is prohibited. Any alteration to a listed or certified battery or device shall render its certification void and constitute a violation of this code. (“Powered Micromobility Devices” added 1-29-2026 by O-22043 N.S.; effective 2-28-2026.)

Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter05/Ch05Art11Division03.pdf#page=1Fetched: 10/28/2026