Brush Clearance: Rohnert Park vs Sonoma
How do brush clearance rules compare between Rohnert Park, CA and Sonoma, CA?
Rohnert Park and Sonoma have similar restriction levels.
Rohnert Park, CA
Sonoma County
Sonoma County Code Chapter 13A (the Hazardous Vegetation Abatement Ordinance, Ord. 6148) requires every improved parcel in the unincorporated county - and every unimproved parcel inside a State or Local Responsibility Area - to maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures, plus 10 feet of clearance along roads and driveways. Annual inspections begin in late spring, with about 4,000 properties checked each year. Failure to comply triggers re-inspection fees, county-contracted abatement billed to the owner, and recordation of a lien against the property.
View full Rohnert Park rules →Sonoma, CA
Sonoma County
Property owners in the City of Sonoma must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures per California Public Resources Code §4291 (in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones) and meet weed abatement standards enforced by the Sonoma Valley Fire District annually. Failure to comply can result in city-conducted abatement with the cost recovered as a property tax lien.
View full Sonoma rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Rohnert Park | Sonoma |
|---|---|---|
| Local Code | Sonoma County Code Chapter 13A (Ord. 6148) | - |
| State Law | PRC Section 4291; 14 CCR 1299.01-1299.05 | - |
| Zone 1 (Lean, Clean, Green) | 0-30 ft from structures | - |
| Zone 2 (Reduced Fuels) | 30-100 ft from structures | - |
| Road/Driveway Clearance | 10 ft horizontal, 13 ft 6 in vertical | - |
| First-Failure Cure Period | 30 calendar days | - |
| Second-Failure Window | 15 calendar days to fix or appeal | - |
| Annual Inspections | ~4,000 properties (Permit Sonoma) | - |
| Non-compliance Result | County abatement billed + lien on property | - |
| Statute (VHFHSZ) | - | Cal. Public Resources Code §4291 |
| Zone 0 (Ember-resistant) | - | 0–5 ft from structure – noncombustible |
| Zone 1 (Lean/Clean/Green) | - | 5–30 ft – thinned vegetation, no dead fuel |
| Zone 2 (Reduced Fuel) | - | 30–100 ft – ladder-fuel removal, spacing |
| Annual abatement deadline | - | June 1 (SVFD Weed Abatement Program) |
| Non-compliance cost recovery | - | Tax lien under Gov. Code §39580–39588 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Rohnert Park FAQ
How much defensible space do I have to maintain in Sonoma County?
Chapter 13A requires 100 feet of defensible space around every structure (or to the property line, whichever is closer), divided into a 0-30 ft 'lean, clean and green' zone and a 30-100 ft 'reduced fuels' zone. Driveways and county roads need 10 feet of horizontal vegetation clearance and 13 feet 6 inches overhead.
What happens if I fail a Sonoma County hazardous-vegetation inspection?
You receive a written notice and 30 calendar days to comply. If a re-inspection also fails, you have 15 more days to abate or to request a written hearing. After that, the County can contract the work and bill you - unpaid charges become a tax-roll lien against your parcel under Chapter 13A and Government Code 39581.
Does Chapter 13A apply to vacant land in Sonoma County?
Yes. The ordinance applies to all improved parcels in the unincorporated county and to unimproved parcels located inside State Responsibility Areas (SRA) or Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) designated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Annual or as-needed mowing of grasses below 4 inches is typically required.
Sonoma FAQ
How much defensible space do I need around my Sonoma home?
If your property is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (per the City of Sonoma's May 2025 adopted map), Public Resources Code §4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space in three zones (0–5 ft ember-resistant, 5–30 ft lean/clean/green, 30–100 ft reduced fuels). Outside VHFHSZ, the City and SVFD still require annual weed abatement to remove dead/dry vegetation by June 1.
What happens if I don't clear my brush?
The Sonoma Valley Fire District issues a Notice to Abate. You get 30 days after a first failed inspection. After a second failure and any hearing, the City can contract a crew to abate the property and charge the cost back to you as a special assessment on your property tax bill.
Compare other topics
See how Rohnert Park and Sonoma compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool