Vegetation Plan
San Diego Municipal Code § 512.0603
in effect§512.0603 Vegetation Plan
(a) Local Amendment. Section 603.2, Application, is amended to read as follows:
All new plantings of vegetation in Wildland-Urban Interface Areas within the City of San Diego shall comply with sections 603.3 through 603.5 and the Landscape Regulations set forth in Chapter 14, Article 2, Division 04 of the San Diego Municipal Code.
(b) Local Amendment. Section 603.3, Landscape Plans, is amended to read as follows:
Landscape plans shall be provided for any new construction of, or additions to structures located in or adjacent to a hazardous fire area or when required by the Fire Code Official. The landscape plan shall include development and maintenance requirements for the fuel modification zones adjacent to structures and roadways and provide significant fire hazard reduction benefits for public and firefighting safety.
Exception. Landscape plans are not required where it is determined by the Fire Code Official that the establishment of fuel modification zones is not necessary based on lot size, configuration, or proximity to hazardous vegetation.
(c) Local Amendment. Section 603.3.1, Contents, is amended to read as follows:
Landscape plans shall contain the following:
(1) delineation of the 5-foot (1524 mm), 30-foot (9144 mm) and 100-foot (30 480 mm) fuel modification zones from all structures;
(2) identification of existing vegetation to remain and proposed new vegetation;
(3) identification of irrigated areas;
(4) a plant legend with both botanical and common names, and identification of all plant material symbols;
(5) identification of ground coverings within the 30-foot (9144 mm) fuel modification zone;
(6) identification of all hardscapes within the 100-foot (30 480 mm) fuel modification zone from all structures; and
(7) identification of all slope grade breaks between fuel modification zones: 0-20%, 20-40%, and over 40%.
(d) Local Amendment. Section 603.4.1, Shrubs, is amended to read as follows:
All new plantings of shrubs shall comply with the following:
(1) Shrubs shall not exceed 4 feet (1219 mm) in height in Zone 1 and 6 feet (1829 mm) in height in Zone 2, as described in Table 603.5;
(2) Groupings of shrubs are limited to a maximum aggregate diameter of 10 feet (3048 mm);
(3) Shrub groupings shall be separated from other groupings by a minimum of 15 feet (4572 mm) or as required by Table 604.3.6 (1), whichever is greater;
(4) Shrub groupings shall be separated from structures by a minimum of 30 feet (9144 mm); and
(5) Where shrubs are located below or within a tree’s drip line, the lowest tree branch shall be a minimum of three times the height of the understory shrubs or 10 feet (3048 mm), whichever is greater.
(e) Local Amendment. Section 603.4.2, Trees, is amended to read as follows:
The responsible person shall manage trees as follows within the 30-foot fuel management zone (9144 mm) of a structure:
(1) New trees shall be planted and maintained so that each tree’s drip line at maturity is a minimum of 10 feet (3048 mm) from any combustible structure; and
(2) The horizontal distance between crowns of new trees and crowns of adjacent trees shall not be less than 10 feet (3048 mm) or as required by Table 604.3.6 (1), whichever is greater; and
(3) All portions of trees, other than the trunk, which extend within 10 feet (3048 mm) of a structure or the outlet of any chimney, must be cut back.
(f) Local Addition. Section 603.5, Fuel Modification Zone Requirements, is added as follows:
Where required by section 603.3, the landscape plans shall identify and establish fuel modification zones. The building or development permit must include legally binding covenants, conditions, and restrictions, designating the fuel modification zones and property owner or community maintenance responsibilities.
(1) The standard fuel modification area is 100 feet (30 480 mm) in width, measured out horizontally from the structure in all directions on the site and is comprised of three distinct zones. The width of each zone shall be established according to Table 603.5.
(2) The Fire Code Official may increase the fuel modification zone beyond the 100-foot (30 480 mm) minimum if fuel or topography or both are determined to increase the fire hazard severity, and when required, based on a fire protection plan. Any increase to the fuel modification zone beyond the 100-foot minimum shall comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations governing environmentally sensitive lands.
(3) The fuel modification zones must be established and maintained on the subject property, unless a recorded easement is granted by an adjacent property owner to the owner of the subject property to establish and maintain the required fuel modification zone(s) on the adjacent property.
(4) The fuel modification zones shall extend for a distance not less than 100 feet (30 480 mm) from all portions of the structure to provide an effective fire break between all structures and contiguous areas of native or naturalized vegetation. Where a minimum of 100 feet (30 480 mm) cannot be provided, an applicant may request approval of alternative compliance if all the following conditions exist:
(A) The proposed alternative compliance provides sufficient defensible space between all structures on the premises and contiguous areas of native or naturalized vegetation as demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Fire Code Official based on documentation that addresses the topography of the site, existing and potential fuel load, and other characteristics related to fire protection and the context of the proposed development;
(B) The proposed alternative compliance includes additional mitigation efforts to building construction or other site modifications to address the lack of defensible space; and
(C) The proposed alternative compliance is not detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare of persons residing or working in the area.
(5) The Fire Code Official may require fuel modification zones to be established for existing structures or previously established fuel modification zones to be modified in compliance with this section for any area, independent of size, location, or condition if it is determined that an imminent fire hazard exists based on current conditions related to fuels, slope, new development, or other hazardous conditions as determined by the Fire Code Official.
(6) The height, area, and spacing requirements for vegetation in a fuel modification zone shall comply with Tables 604.3.6 (1) and 604.3.6 (2).
(7) Fuel modification zones shall be maintained at all times in accordance with section 604.3.
Table 603.5 Fuel Modification Zone Width Requirements
Fuel Modification Zone (FMZ) | Distance From Structure
Zone 0 | 0 – 5 feet
Zone 1 | 5 – 30 feet
Zone 2 | 30 – 100 feet
a Zone 3 | 100 – 200 feet
a. Where required by section 603.5 (2), the Fire Code Official may require an additional 100’ for a total fuel modification zone of 200’.
(g) Local Addition. Section 603.5.1, Fuel Modification of Combustible Vegetation from Sides of Roadways, is added as follows:
The Fire Code Official may require a responsible person to modify combustible vegetation in the area within 20 feet (6096 mm) from each side of a public or private road adjacent to the property to establish a fuel modification zone.
(“Vegetation Plan” added 1-29-2026 by O-22042 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/Ch05Art12Division06.pdf#page=2Fetched: 10/28/2026