603.3.1 Land ownership. Fuel modification zone land used to protect a community shall be under the control of an association or other common ownership instrument for the life of the community to be protected.

603.3.2 Fuel modification zone plans. Fuel modification zone plans shall be approved prior to fuel modification work and shall be placed on a site grading plan shown in plan view. An elevation plan shall also be provided to indicate the length of the fuel modification zone on the slope. Fuel modification zone plans shall include, but not be limited to the following:

1. Plan showing existing vegetation.
2. Photographs showing natural conditions prior to work being performed.
3. Grading plan showing location of proposed buildings and structures, and set backs from top of slope to all buildings or structures.

604.1 General. Defensible spaces required by Section 603 shall be maintained annually, or as necessary in accordance with Section 604.

604.2 Modified area. Nonfire-resistive vegetation or growth shall be kept clear of buildings or structures, in accordance with Section 603, in such a manner as to provide a clear area for fire suppression operations.

604.3 Responsibility. Persons owning, leasing, controlling, operating or maintaining buildings or structures are responsible for maintenance of defensible spaces. Maintenance of the defensible space shall include modifying or removing nonfire-resistive vegetation and keeping leaves, needles and other dead vegetative material regularly removed from roofs of buildings and structures.

604.4 Trees. Individual trees and/or small clumps of trees or brush crowns, extending to within 10 feet (3048 mm) of any structure, shall be pruned to maintain a minimum horizontal clearance of 10 feet (3048 mm). Tree crowns within the defensible space shall be pruned to remove limbs located less than 6 feet (1829 mm) above the ground surface adjacent to the trees.

Portions of tree crowns that extend within 10 feet (3048 mm) of the outlet of a chimney shall be pruned to maintain a minimum horizontal clearance of 10 feet (3048 mm).

Deadwood and litter shall be regularly removed from trees.

Chimneys serving fireplaces, barbecues, incinerators or decorative heating appliances in which solid or liquid fuel is used, shall be provided with a spark arrester. Spark arresters shall be constructed of woven or welded wire screening of 12 USA standard gage wire (0.1046 inch) (2.66 mm) having openings not exceeding ¹/₂ inch (12.7 mm).

The net free area of the spark arrester shall not be less than four times the net free area of the outlet of the chimney.

606.1 General. The storage of LP-gas and the installation and maintenance of pertinent equipment shall be in accordance with the International Fire Code or, in the absence thereof, recognized standards.

606.2 Location of containers. LP-gas containers shall be located within the defensible space in accordance with the Interational Fire Code.

Firewood and combustible material shall not be stored in unenclosed spaces beneath buildings or structures, or on decks or under eaves, canopies or other projections or overhangs. When required by the code official, storage of firewood and combustible material stored in the defensible space shall be located a minimum of 30 feet (9144 mm) from structures and separated from the crown of trees by a minimum horizontal distance of 15 feet (4572 mm).

Firewood and combustible materials not for consumption on the premises shall be stored so as to not pose a hazard. See Appendix A.