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

Article VIII of the Nuisances chapter, adopted by Ord. No. 3082 in 2019, declares hazardous vegetation and combustible material a public nuisance on every parcel in unincorporated Lake County. 1 puts the duty to abate on every owner, occupant, and person in control of improved or unimproved land, extending the duty to roadways and parkways abutting the parcel (except county-maintained roads). 3 requires removal of flammable and dead vegetation within 30 feet of neighboring structures and roadway frontage, trimming of grass and combustible surface vegetation to under 6 inches within 10 feet of structures and roadway frontage, and pruning of trees within 10 feet of structures to at least 6 feet above grade.

3 as the Chief Building Official or a designee certified by the ICC, NFPA or Cal Fire, may expand clearance beyond these widths depending on slope, fuel load and fuel type. Enforcement under Section 13-61 starts with voluntary compliance efforts, host-notice inspections and help from County Fire Safe Councils, but the Fire Official can summarily abate an immediate threat under Health and Safety Code section 14930 without prior notice. Formal abatement proceedings under Section 13-62 require a written notice of violation giving the owner 30 business days to comply (extendable for large or steep parcels), with a right to appeal to the Board of Supervisors within 15 calendar days of the notice postmark; an untimely appeal means the Board is deemed to have ordered abatement as of the postmark date.

Section 13-63 makes a violation an infraction or misdemeanor under Section 13-44, and Section 13-64 layers on administrative fines during declared "fire season" (the period a burn ban is in effect) of up to $100 per day for a first violation, $200 per day for a second violation within a year, and $500 per day for each additional violation within a year, collectible directly by the County or through the State Franchise Tax Board.