Antioch, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)
Key Facts
- State law
- PRC 4291 (100-ft clearance)
- Zone 1
- 0-30 ft - lean, clean, green
- Zone 2
- 30-100 ft - reduced fuel
- Inspector
- Contra Costa County FPD
- Non-compliance
- City abatement + lien on property
Summary
California Public Resources Code 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in fire hazard areas. Antioch's hillside and open-space fringe parcels (especially near Black Diamond Mines and Deer Valley) fall within CAL FIRE-mapped moderate and high Fire Hazard Severity Zones where clearance is mandatory.
(a) A person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains a building or structure in the state responsibility area shall at all times do all of the following:
(1) (A) Maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure, but not beyond the property line, except as provided in subparagraph (B). The amount of fuel modification necessary shall consider the flammability of the structure as affected by building material, building standards, location, and type of vegetation. Fuels shall be maintained and spaced in a condition so that a wildfire would be unlikely to ignite the structure. This subparagraph does not apply to single specimens of trees or other vegetation that are well-pruned and maintained so as to effectively manage fuels and not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from other nearby vegetation to a structure or from a structure to other nearby vegetation or to interrupt the advance of embers toward a structure. The intensity of fuels management may vary within the 100-foot perimeter of the structure, with more intense fuel reductions being utilized between 5 and 30 feet around the structure, and an ember-resistant zone being required within 5 feet of the structure, based on regulations promulgated by the board, in consultation with the department, to consider the elimination of materials in the ember-resistant zone that would likely be ignited by embers.
(2) Remove that portion of a tree that extends within 10 feet of the outlet of a chimney or stovepipe.
(3) Maintain a tree, shrub, or other plant adjacent to or overhanging a building free of dead or dying wood.
(4) Maintain the roof of a structure free of leaves, needles, or other vegetative materials.
Full Breakdown
California Public Resources Code 4291 requires property owners in designated Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) to maintain 100 feet of defensible space around all structures. Zone 1 (0-30 feet) requires lean, clean, and green conditions: no dead vegetation, grass cut to 4 inches or less, tree canopies trimmed 10 feet above the ground, and woodpiles moved away from structures. Zone 2 (30-100 feet) requires reduced fuel with horizontal and vertical spacing between trees and shrubs. While much of Antioch sits in the Local Responsibility Area (LRA) with moderate FHSZ classification, the city's eastern, southern, and hillside neighborhoods adjoining Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, Deer Valley, and the Roddy Ranch area contain High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones per CAL FIRE's 2022 FHSZ maps adopted by the city.
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (CCCFPD) performs annual exterior hazard inspections each spring and summer, issuing notices of violation requiring abatement within 30 days. If an owner fails to abate, CCCFPD may perform the work and place a lien for costs plus administrative fees (typically $500-$2,500 per parcel). During Red Flag Warnings, additional restrictions on equipment use (mowers, weed whackers after 10 AM) apply. Owners should consult the CAL FIRE FHSZ viewer to confirm their parcel status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my Antioch property in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone?
What if my 100-foot zone crosses my property line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Antioch
California rules heatmap·Compare Antioch to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Brush Clearance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Contra Costa County handle brush clearance.