Monterey County, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Defensible space in unincorporated Monterey County is governed by California Public Resources Code (PRC) 4291, enforced by CAL FIRE and the county fire districts. PRC 4291 requires property owners to maintain 100 feet of defensible space (or to the property line) around buildings and structures in the State Responsibility Area and in very high fire hazard severity zones. Defensible space is managed in zones: an ember-resistant Zone 0 immediately around the structure (0–5 feet), a lean, clean and green Zone 1 (out to 30 feet), and a reduced-fuel Zone 2 (30 to 100 feet). Effective July 1, 2021, when selling property located in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone, the seller must provide documentation of a compliant defensible space inspection that meets PRC 4291 or the local vegetation management ordinance; the inspection must be within the six months before the sales contract. If the property cannot pass, buyer and seller may agree in writing that the buyer will obtain compliant documentation within one year after closing escrow. With roughly 80% of Monterey County rated high, very high, or extreme fire threat — underscored by the 2016 Soberanes Fire and 2020 Dolan Fire — defensible space is a critical wildfire mitigation. The Monterey County Regional Fire District schedules sale-of-property inspections at (831) 455-1828.