Section 304 Combustible Waste Material

Combustible waste material creating a fire hazard shall not be allowed to accumulate in buildings or structures or upon premises.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.07(a)] Clearances.

1. General. No combustible material shall be placed or stored within 10 feet of any building or structure.

Weeds, grass, vines or other growth that is capable of being ignited and endangering property, shall be cut down and removed by the owner or occupant of the premises. Vegetation clearance requirements in urban-wildland interface areas shall be in accordance with Chapter 49.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.07(b)] Clearances.

1. (b) Ground Clearance. The space surrounding every building or structure shall be maintained in accordance with the following:

   Any person that owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains any building or structure in, upon, or adjoining any mountainous area or forest-covered lands, brush covered lands, or grass-covered lands, or any land which is covered with flammable material, shall at all times do all of the following:

   1. Maintain around and adjacent to such building or structure a firebreak made by removing and clearing away, for a distance of not less than 30 feet on each side thereof or to the property line, whichever is nearer, all flammable vegetation or other combustible growth. This section does not apply to single specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery, or similar plants which are used as ground cover, if they do not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from the native growth to any building or structure.
   2. Maintain around and adjacent to any such building or structure additional fire protection or firebreak made by removing all bush, flammable vegetation, or combustible growth which is located from 30 feet to 100 feet from such building or structure or to the property line, whichever is nearer, as may be required by the enforcing agency if he finds that, because of extra hazardous conditions, a firebreak of only 30 feet around such building or structure is not sufficient to provide reasonable fire safety. Grass and other vegetation located more than 30 feet from such building or structure and less than 18 inches in height above the ground may be maintained where necessary to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
   3. Remove that portion of any tree which extends within 10 feet of the outlet of any chimney or stovepipe.
   4. Cut and remove all dead or dying portions of trees located adjacent to or overhanging any building.
   5. Maintain the roof of any structure free of leaves, needles, or other dead vegetative growth.
   6. Provide and maintain at all times a screen over the outlet of every chimney or stovepipe that is attached to any fireplace, stove, or other device that burns any solid or liquid fuel. The screen shall be constructed of nonflammable material with openings of not more than ¹/₂ inch in size.
   7. Vegetation around all applicable buildings and structures shall be maintained in accordance with the following laws and regulations:

1. Public Resources Code Section 4291.
2. California Code of Regulations Title 14 - Natural Resources, Division 1.5 - Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, “General Guideline to Create Defensible Space.”
3. California Government Code Section 51182.
4. California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 9.

Combustible rubbish, and waste material kept within or near a structure shall be stored in accordance with Sections 304.3.1 through 304.3.4.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.19(b) and (c)] Housekeeping.

Every building or portion of a building governed by California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1 regulations shall be maintained in a neat orderly manner, free from any condition that would create a fire or life hazard or a condition which would add to or contribute to the rapid spread of fire. Provisions shall be made for the proper storage and disposal of waste materials and rubbish consistent with the following:

1. (b) All combustible waste material and rubbish shall be stored in approved containers or shall be stored in a manner approved by the enforcing agency as being consistent with standard fire prevention practices until such waste material and rubbish is removed from the premises or otherwise disposed of in a proper manner.

   1. Containers with a capacity exceeding 5.33 cubic feet (40 gallons) (0.15 m³) shall comply with the provisions of California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 9, Section 304.3.
   2. Wastebaskets and linen containers in Group I-2 and I-3 occupancies shall comply with the provisions of California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 9, Section 808.
2. (c) Approved self-closing metal containers or listed disposal containers by an approved testing or listing agency shall be provided and maintained in all rooms or locations where oily rags, oily waste, paint rags, or similar materials subject to spontaneous ignition are used, or are stored temporarily. Such containers shall be emptied daily.

Containers with a capacity exceeding 5.33 cubic feet (40 gallons) (0.15 m³) shall be provided with lids. Containers and lids shall be constructed of noncombustible materials or of combustible materials with a peak rate of heat release not exceeding 300 kW/m² where tested in accordance with ASTM E1354 at an incident heat flux of 50 kW/m² in the horizontal orientation.

Exception: Wastebaskets complying with Section 808.

Dumpsters and containers with an individual capacity of 1.5 cubic yards [40.5 cubic feet (1.15 m³)] or more shall not be stored in buildings or placed within 5 feet (1524 mm) of combustible walls, openings or combustible roof eave lines.

Exceptions:

1. Dumpsters or containers in areas protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system installed throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3.
2. Storage in a structure shall not be prohibited where the structure is of Type I or IIA construction, located not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) from other buildings and used exclusively for dumpster or container storage.

Dumpsters with an individual capacity of 1.0 cubic yard [200 gallons (0.76 m³)] or more shall not be stored in buildings or placed within 5 feet (1524 mm) of combustible walls, openings or combustible roof eave lines unless the dumpsters are constructed of noncombustible materials or of combustible materials with a peak rate of heat release not exceeding 300 kW/m² where tested in accordance with ASTM E1354 at an incident heat flux of 50 kW/m² in the horizontal orientation.

Exceptions:

1. Dumpsters in areas protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system installed throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3.
2. Storage in a structure shall not be prohibited where the structure is of Type I or IIA construction, located not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) from other buildings and used exclusively for dumpster or container storage.