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1 RiversideCA.gov1
RiversideCA.gov
City CouncilApril 8, 2025Adoption of Urgency Ordinance for Vegetation Management and Defensible Space in Compliance with Government Code Section 51175Fire Department RiversideCA.gov2
BACKGROUNDGovernment Code Section 51175•Establishes state commitment to mitigating wildfire risks in high-risk areas.•Wildfires threaten public peace, health, safety, and local agency resources.•Cross-jurisdictional issue requiring coordination among cities, counties, special districts, and state/federal agencies.Purpose of Government Code 51175•Facilitates fire prevention planning and wildfire mitigation strategies.•Requires: •Defensible space requirements (PRC 4291)•Fire-resistant construction codes•Vegetation management mandates•Ensures appropriate fire safety standards and land use policies in high-risk zones.•Promotes agency collaboration to protect communities and natural resources.1 2 3/27/2025
2 RiversideCA.gov3
BACKGROUNDIncreasing Wildfire Severity in California•Factors: Climate change, prolonged droughts, vegetation buildup, development in fire-prone areas.2024 Statistics:•8,024 wildfires, burning 1,050,012 acres.•1,716 structures destroyed; 1 fatality.•Highest acreage burned since 2021.January 2025 (Los Angeles County):•Palisades & Eaton fires: 57,000+ acres burned.•18,000+ structures destroyed/damaged.•29 fatalities; 200,000+ evacuated.•Insured losses: $28 billion (one of the costliest wildfire events in U.S. history).
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BACKGROUNDImportance of Defensible Space•Critical for reducing home loss during wildfires.•Creating buffer zones around structures by: •Removing flammable vegetation.•Reducing fuel loads.•Implementing fire-resistant landscaping.Proven Effectiveness•Essential for improving resilience in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI).•Homes with 100+ feet of defensible space have much higher survival rates.3 4 3/27/2025
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DISCUSSIONCity of Riverside Defensible Space Ordinance - Key ProvisionsAnnual Defensible Space Requirements•Maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures in hazard zones. •Remove flammable vegetation, overgrown brush, and combustible materials. •Ensure fire-resistant landscaping and proper vegetation spacing. Good Neighbor Rule•Requires adjacent unimproved parcels to comply with defensible space requirements. •100 feet of clearance extends onto neighboring properties as needed. •Coordinates vegetation management across property lines.
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DISCUSSIONInspection and Enforcement Procedures•Initial Inspections: Conducted 30 days after clearance notices are issued.•Non-Compliance Citations: Violations reported with corrective action requirements.•Fines & Forced Abatement: Persistent non-compliance results in fines and forced clearance.•Nuisance Abatement: Costs recovered through property liens or tax assessments.California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Exemption•Categorically Exempt (Class 4) for minor land alterations.•Common sense exemption (14 CCR section 15061(b)(3)) - focuses on wildfire hazard mitigation.Seasonal Public Nuisance Designation•Properties with repeated violations classified as seasonal public nuisances.•Allows automatic annual enforcement actions without additional hearings. 5 6
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DISCUSSIONStrategic Benefits of the Ordinance•Enhances Community Safety•Reduces wildfire risks before fire season. •Provides firefighters with defensible space for better protection during incidents. •Improves Property Protection & Fire Insurance Accessibility•Promotes fire-safe communities for potential insurance premium reductions. •Minimizes risk of property destruction, infrastructure damage, and economic loss. •Ensures Fiscal Responsibility•Reduces City expenditures on wildfire response and recovery. •Implements cost-recovery mechanisms through fines and property liens. •Aligns with State Fire Protection Mandates•Complies with Government Code Section 51182 and state wildfire mitigation laws.
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Defensible Space WorkshopThe operational implementation of the proposed ordinance will be presented to theMayor and City Council during a future workshop. During this workshop, the detailed plansfor applying and implementing the ordinance will be shared for review and discussion.7 8 3/27/2025
5 RiversideCA.gov9
This item contributes to Strategic Priority Number 2: Community Well-Being and Goal 2.6 – Strengthen community preparedness for emergencies to ensure effective response and recovery.Cross-Cutting Threads
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
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RECOMMENDATIONSThat the City Council:1. Receive a report regarding a proposed Urgency Ordinance adopting vegetationmanagement and defensible space regulations in compliance with GovernmentCode Section 51175; and2. With at least five affirmative votes, adopt the Urgency Ordinance amending theRiverside Municipal Code by adding Chapter 16.6 regarding vegetationmanagement and defensible space.9 10