New Brush Clearance Expectations Set For Calabasas Homeowners

CALABASAS, CA — Due to fire risk, some Calabasas residents may be expected to meet stricter brush clearance requirements, the city announced Wednesday.

Most of Calabasas is deemed a Very High Fire hazard Severity Zone by Cal Fire, along with most of its neighbors. Given continued risk, many residents received brush clearance notices from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, according to the city of Calabasas.

Most of the residents receiving notices in the new year will have never received a brush clearance notice before, according to the city.

The notices are part of California's enforcement of a new law that requires the "removal of all flammable materials within five feet of any structure," enforceable through inspections from local fire enforcement. The new law added around 60,000 parcels to Los Angeles County's inspection list, according to the city.

"Owners of structures within a [Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone] must do more intense fuel reductions between 5 – 30 feet around the structure, and should create an ember-resistant zone within 0 – 5 feet of the structure," the city said on its website.

There are a number of exceptions for plants that could not transmit a fire from "native growth to the structure," including individually planted, spaced and maintained ornamental trees and plants and some cultivated ground cover such as grass, ivy or succulents. Trees extending within 10 feet of a chimney must be removed, and roofs must be free of leaves, needles and dead vegetative growth.

The city of Calabasas on March 10 will participate a meeting with local fire authorities to discuss the new brush clearance expectations. The meeting will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Calabasas Civic Center, Founders Hall, located at 200 Civic Center Way.

For more information, visit Cal Fire's website.