Brush Clearance: Palo Alto vs San Jose
How do brush clearance rules compare between Palo Alto, CA and San Jose, CA?
Palo Alto and San Jose have similar restriction levels.
Palo Alto, CA
Santa Clara County
Palo Alto enforces California PRC 4291 defensible space in its Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, requiring 100 feet of vegetation management with stricter rules in the inner 30-foot zone.
View full Palo Alto rules →San Jose, CA
Santa Clara County
San Jose enforces defensible space requirements under California Public Resources Code §4291 in the East Foothills, Alum Rock, Almaden Valley, and Silver Creek WUI zones. Property owners must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures, with annual inspections by San Jose Fire Department and Cal Fire in mapped hazard areas.
View full San Jose rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Palo Alto | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | 0-30 feet, lean and green | - |
| Zone 2 | 30-100 feet, reduced fuel | - |
| Grass height limit | 4 inches in Zone 2 | - |
| Applies to | Parcels in VHFHSZ (foothills) | - |
| Inspections | Annual by Palo Alto Fire | - |
| - | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Palo Alto FAQ
Is my Palo Alto property in the VHFHSZ?
Check the CAL FIRE FHSZ map or Palo Alto hazard layer. Most flatland homes east of I-280 are not in the zone, while foothill parcels typically are.
What happens if I fail inspection?
The Fire Department issues a notice with a deadline. Non-compliance can lead to city-hired abatement billed to the property.
San Jose FAQ
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