Fire, Brush, and Building Information
for Municipalities and
Fire Protection Districts
in the County of San Diego

Frequently Asked Questions

What steps do I need to take if I'm going to have a canopy at my outdoor party?

How do I obtain a Knox® switch?

I received a Hazard Abatement Notice. How important is it that I comply?

Do I have to put fire sprinklers in additions or remodels?

Who do I contact if I have questions?

What steps do I need to take if I'm going to have a canopy at my outdoor party?
If your party or special event will have a tent, canopy or air supported structure, you will need to complete a tent application. Please fax (858-756-4799), mail (PO Box 410, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067) or drop off (16936 El Fuego, Rancho Santa Fe) your completed application for Fire Marshal approval.

In addition to your application, please submit a sketch of the premises with dimensions of the covered area, seating arrangements, and locations of exits and fire extinguishers. After the application is approved, the Fire Marshal will perform an on-site inspection.

• Tent Application (pdf)

How do I obtain a Knox® switch?
Applications for Knox® switches are available from the Fire District administrative office at 16936 El Fuego in Rancho Santa Fe. To have an application mailed to you, please call (858) 756-5971. When applying, we will need the address of the property where the Knox® switch will be installed. More information about Knox® switches is available on the Knox® website and on page 9 of RSF Fire District Ordinance 03-01.

Click here for a list of Knox® key switch installers (pdf)

I received a Hazard Abatement Notice. How important is it that I comply?
Complying with hazard abatement is essential in a high wildfire danger zone like Rancho Santa Fe - not only will vegetation maintenance help protect your home and family during a wildfire, but it will also aid firefighters in their fire suppression efforts.

To schedule an on-site meeting with RSF Fire District personnel to discuss measures you can take to abate vegetation hazards and make your home safer, contact Renee Hill via phone at (858) 756-6007, or via email.

If you wish to appeal the recommendations on your notice, please fill out an appeals form at the district's administrative office (16936 El Fuego, Rancho Santa Fe). From there, the fire district's Board of Directors will review your appeal and make a decision. This process could take 30 days or more.

Do I have to put fire sprinklers in additions or remodels?
The Fire District requires automatic fire sprinklers in all structures built or moved into the District. Automatic fire sprinklers are required in any addition or remodel to an existing residential structure when the area added/remodeled is greater than 50% of the existing square footage or if the area added exceeds 2,500 square feet, whichever is less, AND the total square footage is greater than 4,999.

Fire sprinklers are not required for the following:
EXCEPTION 1 - Group U (miscellaneous) structures of less than 500 square feet.
EXCEPTION 2 - Greenhouses when not connected to other structures.

Who do I contact if I have questions?
For answers to your basic questions, please contact us via email at Ask-FireMarshal@rsf-fire.org. If more in depth information is needed please call us 858-756-5971 and make an appointment. Thank you.