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

Trinity County is forested mountain terrain where defensible space is a legal requirement, not just a recommendation. Under California Public Resources Code section 4291, any person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains a building or structure in a State Responsibility Area must maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure (but not beyond the property line). Because Trinity County's General Plan confirms the entire county is within State Responsibility Areas or Federal Responsibility Areas, the PRC 4291 100-foot standard applies countywide for structures on SRA land. CAL FIRE's defensible space guidance breaks the 100 feet into Zone 1 (the ember-resistant 0-5 foot zone) and Zone 2 (the 5-100 foot reduced-fuel zone), with tasks such as mowing annual grasses to a maximum height of four inches, spacing shrubs and trees, and removing fallen leaves, needles, and dead vegetation. On top of state law, Trinity County maintains its own Fire Safe Ordinance (County Code Chapter 8.30) that sets standards for new development - including adequate defensible space and fuel clearances around structures and ingress/egress routes, road and driveway access, property and building identification signage, and emergency water supply, consistent with state fire-safe regulations (PRC 4290). CAL FIRE conducts defensible space inspections in the SRA. The Trinity County Fire Safe Council, local fire districts, and CAL FIRE provide assessments and assistance to help landowners meet these standards.