Summer is quickly approaching! The heat is already rolling in and we are preparing for another blistering Southern California summer. Unfortunately, summer isn’t all beach days and barbecues; it is also fire season. Every summer, beautiful greenery becomes dry, dead, overgrown brush, which is susceptible to wildfires. These fires devastate the community, contribute to poor air quality, and cause irreversible structural damage.
Part of being a commercial property owner in SoCal is doing your part to protect your community by prepping your landscaping for wildfire season. At Stay Green, our team is here to help you comply with all current fire regulations and avoid wildfires, while also maintaining your beautiful landscape. Read on to learn more about these regulations and what we can do for you.
Brush Clearance Regulations
Due to our history of devastating wildfires, property owners must ensure they adhere to brush clearance regulations in order to pass inspection and avoid a hefty fine. During the months of May and June, the Brush Task Force is responsible for conducting these inspections and determining whether your property adequately meets the brush clearance standards. If you are found to be in violation of these regulations, you will be issued a violation, charged with a $29 fee, and given 15 days to fix the problem. If you do not pass re-inspection after your 15 days is up, you will be charged the cost of clearance, a $516 inspection fee, a $1,303 administrative fee, and a $29 contractor’s fee.
Needless to say, it is in your best interest to ensure your property is well-maintained and ready to pass inspection.
How & When Brush Needs to Be Cleared
In order to prevent wildfires, the Task Brush Force has created these guidelines detailing how to safely clear or trim brush and vegetation. By adhering to these guidelines, commercial property owners are doing their part to keep their landscape safe, prevent hazardous wildfires, and protect their community.
Below are the guidelines that must be met:
When cutting grass and clearing brush, all metal cutting blades must be non-ferrous/non-sparking
Brush clearance cannot be performed on red flag days (when dry weather conditions are too extreme)
In the event of an emergency or injury, there must be a cellphone readily accessible
There must be an approved fire extinguisher or pressurized garden hose within 10 feet of operation
Any flammable vegetation within 30 feet of a structure needs to be trimmed down to no more than 3 inches tall
All clutter and combustible matter must be cleared from roof surfaces
All fire hydrants need to have a minimum of 3 feet of brush clearance
All vegetation within 100 feet of a structure must be thinned
Access roads must have a minimum of 10 feet of brush clearance (nothing may hang over the road, except for maintained trees)
Trees and shrubs need to be trimmed up to one-third of their height
The team at Stay Green understands that meeting these guidelines is hard work. Luckily, we know these brush clearance regulations so that you don’t have to. When you call on us, you can rest easy knowing that we have the tools, training, and expertise necessary to ensure your property is properly maintained and prepared to pass inspection.
Call Stay Green Today
Stay Green is committed to maintaining the safety of our clients, our employees, and our community. As always, we want to do whatever it takes to make your life easier and keep your property protected. Each day, our team is out in the field tending to the landscape, performing necessary maintenance, and ensuring your property is safe.
Our support and dedication to you is unwavering. Trust us to help you meet brush clearance regulations and avoid the unnecessary headache of failing inspection. We will get the job done right the first time!
To schedule service or learn more about how we can help you, give us a call at (800) 741-9150. We look forward to hearing from you!