Properties in CalFire State Responsibility Area and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones must maintain 100 feet of defensible space under California PRC §4291. Santa Clara County FireSafe Council and CalFire enforce in foothill unincorporated communities like Saratoga Hills, Los Altos Hills, and Mount Hamilton.
California Public Resources Code §4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in State Responsibility Areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, divided into Zone 0 (0-5 feet, ember-resistant), Zone 1 (5-30 feet, lean and green), and Zone 2 (30-100 feet, reduced fuel). CalFire Santa Clara Unit (CZU) inspects unincorporated foothill parcels above Saratoga, Los Gatos, Cupertino, and Mount Hamilton. The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council coordinates outreach, chipper days, and shaded-fuel-break grants. Owners must remove dead vegetation, prune limbs six feet above the ground, clear roofs and gutters, and limit ornamental plantings within five feet of walls. Santa Clara County Fire Department serves western foothills under contract.
Failure to comply after a 30-day notice triggers force-clearance by CalFire-contracted crews at owner cost, plus a tax-roll lien. Administrative fines start at $100 and escalate to $500 per violation; repeat offenders face misdemeanor citation under PRC §4291.
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara is mostly on the valley floor and not mapped as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, but nearby foothills trigger PRC 4291 defensible space for...
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara encourages California native landscaping through MWELO compliance and Valley Water rebates. Native plants are allowed as lawn replacements citywide.
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara is largely not mapped in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, but adjacent foothill communities are. Check the CAL FIRE map before building or ...
See how Santa Clara's defensible space rules stack up against other locations.
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