The City of San Rafael has recently implemented an ordinance establishing standards for fire defensible perimeters around properties and other vegetation regulations. The Fire Chief may inspect properties within the City’s jurisdiction at his/her discretion. There is currently no inspection mandated by the City of San Rafael at the time of sale. The details of the standards and the enforcement are found in here in Ordinance 1856.
A map of the pertinent areas surrounding San Rafael is available at the City Clerks Office or at: http://tinyurl.com/28vc3r
What does this mean?
San Rafael’s Ordinance No. 1856, Wildland-Urban Interface – Vegetation Management Standards Ordinance creates designated areas where specific combustible vegetation management standards will be required in order to create space around structures to minimize the spread of fires.
The ordinance is pretty restrictive. All junipers within 15 feet of a structure must be removed, the crowns on trees must be raised and more. San Rafael home buyers are advised to contact the San Rafael Fire Department with questions (** IMPORTANT NOTE: The standard purchase contract used in Marin County requires a buyer to obtain the seller’s permission before contacting any government official).
The San Rafael ordinance is based on a county requirement. Homeowners and prospective buyers in all Marin County cities need to be aware of this ordinance, as other communities may soon follow San Rafael’s lead.