Open Space Parks Brush Management Program

Of the 24,655 total acres of open space managed by the Park and Recreation Department’s Open Space Division (Division), approximately 1,180 acres are located within 100 feet of structures. Among other duties related to open space land management, the Division is responsible for conducting brush management (vegetation thinning) on city owned open space adjacent to privately-owned lots which are developed with “previously conforming” (legal) structures built prior to establishment of the city’s first brush management regulations in 1989.

The Division conducts brush management in accordance with Section 142.0412 of the San Diego Municipal Code, Fire Prevention Policy B-09-1 (PDF: 14M) and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Bulletin #1 : Brush Management Guide. (PDF: 499K) Specifically, the Division will thin brush on city property only within 100 horizontal feet of a previously conforming structure unless a site-specific report, which indicates that a greater distance is necessary, is approved by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (per SDMC Section 142.0412(i)) or a previously recorded entitlement requires a width more or less than the standard 100 feet. In no case shall new development (new structures or additions to existing structures) qualify for additional brush management on city open space beyond the 100 feet associated with a previously conforming structure.

The Division schedules brush management based on a prioritization of all City lands, from highest to lowest, by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department as part of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s update of the City’s Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map. (An update report on the map revisions may be viewed at: http://docs.sandiego.gov/reportstocouncil/2008/08-064.pdf (PDF: 1.1M)). Currently the top five priority zones have been completed and are listed below. It is anticipated that prioritization of the entire City will be completed by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department by the end of September 2008.

If the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department's prioritization work is not complete when the Division completes the existing priority areas, the Division will rely on the grid values previously assigned each Open Space parcel by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. If the Division must rely on grid values to schedule work, schedules shall be based on grid values, from highest to lowest.

When scheduling is based on grid values, the following will apply:

When two or more parcels have an identical grid values, preference shall be established based on whether the parcel contains California gnatcatcher (CAGN) habitat. During the breeding season (March 1-August 15), parcels which do not contain CAGN habitat shall be completed. Outside the breeding season, parcels which contain CAGN shall be completed. During the breeding season, if no non-CAGN habitat parcels remain, the Division will conduct presence/absents surveys to continue work during the breeding season. At no time shall the Division schedule work on a parcel with a lower grid value based on CAGN breeding season restrictions while a parcel with a higher grid value remains.

Priority Areas (first five):

City Overview (PDF: 852K)

How can you help the Division?

Due to limited public access between city streets and brush management locations, crews often need to haul deadwood and cut brush more than 300 feet across steep slopes in order to haul it away. By offering crews access through your property, you can make the brush management program more efficient. If you would like to offer this access, please complete the City of San Diego/Homeowner Brush Management Access Agreement (PDF: 701K) and send it to:

Brush Management Schedule Coordinator
1250 Sixth Avenue, MS 804A
San Diego, CA 92101

Can you conduct brush management on Division managed lands?

You or your contractor may also thin brush on city property behind your property in accordance with Regulations (PDF: 1.3M) if you first obtain a "Right of Entry" permit from the Open Space Division. You can apply for a Right of Entry permit by completing the application materials in the Right of Entry application form (PDF: 194K) and sending them to:

Brush Management Right of Entry Permit Coordinator
1250 Sixth Avenue, MS 804A
San Diego, CA 92101
For questions, please call (619) 533-6726

Or you can email the completed application to: mjennings@sandiego.gov.