Because most of Plumas County is State Responsibility Area in High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, property owners must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures under California Public Resources Code 4291, enforced by CAL FIRE's Lassen-Modoc Unit. The 100 feet is split into Zone 0 (0–5 ft), Zone 1 (5–30 ft), and Zone 2 (30–100 ft), each with specific clearance standards.
Under California Public Resources Code 4291, owners of property in a State Responsibility Area (SRA) or a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone must maintain defensible space extending 100 feet from each structure (or to the property line). Most of Plumas County's forested mountain terrain is SRA protected by CAL FIRE's Lassen-Modoc Unit, making this a baseline legal requirement for most rural homes. CAL FIRE divides defensible space into zones: Zone 0 (0–5 feet, the ember-resistant 'immediate' zone) requires removing dead vegetation, leaves, and pine needles and keeping the area next to the home free of combustibles; Zone 1 (5–30 feet) requires clearing dead plants and lawn, removing fallen leaves and branches, and spacing trees and shrubs; Zone 2 (30–100 feet, the 'reduced fuel' zone) requires cutting grass low, removing dead material, and spacing trees so crowns do not touch. Under California's AB 38, on or after July 1, 2021, when selling a residential property in a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, the seller must document a compliant PRC 4291 defensible-space inspection; Plumas County recognizes this requirement. As of April 1, 2023, the State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations (14 CCR, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2) also apply. Plumas County has 26 Firewise USA communities. CAL FIRE inspects SRA parcels for compliance; under state law, defensible-space violations can carry fines up to $20,000 per violation.
Failure to maintain required defensible space in the SRA or a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone violates PRC 4291 and can result in CAL FIRE inspection, notice, and citation; state law authorizes fines up to $20,000 per violation. In real-estate sales of homes in High/Very High FHSZ, lack of a compliant defensible-space inspection disclosure (AB 38) can hold up the transaction.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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