Bakersfield, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Bakersfield Municipal Code Chapter 8.27 declares dry weeds, grass over 6 inches, dead trees, and combustible rubbish to be public nuisances. The Bakersfield Fire Department's Prevention Services Division conducts an annual weed abatement inspection cycle beginning in March. Properties found in violation receive a Notice to Abate requiring clearance within 15 to 30 days. If the owner fails to comply, the Fire Department contracts the work and the cost — plus a 100% administrative fee — is placed as a special assessment on the Kern County tax roll under Government Code §38773.5. On the east and northeast foothill fringe where properties border Kern County Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones mapped by CAL FIRE, California Public Resources Code §4291 applies: owners must maintain 100 feet of defensible space, including a 30-foot 'lean, clean, and green' zone immediately around structures and an outer 70-foot reduced-fuel zone. Within 10 feet of chimneys and roofs, all flammable vegetation must be removed. Wood piles, propane tanks, and combustible fences attached to homes must be separated from vegetation. The Fire Department coordinates with CAL FIRE's Kern County Unit on enforcement in hillside neighborhoods like the northeast bluffs and areas near Hart Park.