Public Resources Code 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around all structures in VHFHSZ and SRA areas of Alameda County, enforced by CAL FIRE and the Alameda County Fire Department.
California Public Resources Code Section 4291 mandates that any person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains a building or structure in, upon, or adjoining any mountainous area, forest-covered land, brush-covered land, grass-covered land, or land that is covered with flammable material in an SRA or VHFHSZ must maintain defensible space of 100 feet. Zone 0 (0-5 feet) is the ember-resistant zone requiring non-combustible materials, no bark mulch, and no flammable items against the structure. Zone 1 (5-30 feet) is the lean, clean, and green zone requiring removal of dead vegetation, spacing of plants, and trimming trees 10 feet from chimneys. Zone 2 (30-100 feet) requires grass mowed to 4 inches, shrub spacing, and tree canopy separation. Alameda County Fire Department and CAL FIRE conduct inspections annually, typically May through October. Violations may result in fines and county abatement with costs assessed to the property. Sunol, Castro Valley, Fairview, and Oakland Hills are priority inspection areas.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle brush clearance.
See how Castro Valley's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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