Brentwood, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)
Key Facts
- Requirement
- 100 feet of defensible space required in fire zones
- Requirement
- Zone 0 (0-5 ft) must be ember-resistant per AB 3074
- Vegetation Clearance
- Zone 1 (5-30 ft) requires trimmed, spaced vegetation
- Requirement
- Zone 2 (30-100 ft) requires reduced fuel loads
- Requirement
- ECCFPD inspects annually with abatement and lien authority
Summary
California Public Resources Code Section 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in State Responsibility Areas and in any CAL FIRE mapped fire hazard severity zone. Portions of eastern Brentwood abutting Mount Diablo foothills and Marsh Creek are mapped, and ECCFPD inspects compliance before fire season each year.
4291.
(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.
(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's defensible space law (PRC Section 4291) requires property owners to maintain 100 feet of clearance around every occupied structure in a State Responsibility Area or in any Local Responsibility Area Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Eastern Brentwood parcels bordering the unincorporated foothills and Marsh Creek watershed fall within mapped fire hazard zones and are subject to the full 100-foot clearance rule. Zone 0 (the first 0-5 feet from the structure) must be an "ember-resistant" zone with no combustible vegetation or materials under AB 3074.
Zone 1 (5-30 feet) requires lean, clean, and green landscaping with trimmed trees, irrigated plantings, and 10-foot spacing between shrubs and tree canopies. Zone 2 (30-100 feet) allows reduced fuel with grass cut to 4 inches or less and horizontal spacing of brush. The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District conducts annual exterior inspections beginning in May and issues Notice of Violation letters with 30-day compliance deadlines. Non-compliance can result in abatement by the district with costs recorded as a property lien, plus administrative fines up to $500. Homeowners in Wildland-Urban Interface areas must also comply with Chapter 7A ignition-resistant building material rules when re-roofing or remodeling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does defensible space apply to my Brentwood home?
What if my neighbor won't clear their lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brentwood
California rules heatmap·Compare Brentwood to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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Brush Clearance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Contra Costa County handle brush clearance.