Brush Clearance: Richmond vs Walnut Creek
How do brush clearance rules compare between Richmond, CA and Walnut Creek, CA?
Richmond has fewer restrictions than Walnut Creek.
Richmond, CA
Contra Costa County
California Public Resources Code 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in State Responsibility Areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Portions of Richmond's hillside neighborhoods (El Sobrante hills, Hilltop, Point Richmond ridges) fall within CAL FIRE-mapped VHFHSZ areas and must comply; flatland areas are exempt.
View full Richmond rules →Walnut Creek, CA
Contra Costa County
Properties in Walnut Creek's Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and State Responsibility Area — including the city's eastern hills near Mount Diablo and along the Shell Ridge Open Space — must maintain 100 feet of defensible space under California Public Resources Code Section 4291, with specific Zone 0 (0–5 ft) ember-resistant clearance required under AB 3074.
View full Walnut Creek rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Richmond | Walnut Creek |
|---|---|---|
| - | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Richmond FAQ
Walnut Creek FAQ
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