Folsom, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)
Key Facts
- State Law
- PRC §4291
- Distance
- 100 ft defensible space
- Zone 1
- 0-30 ft (strict)
- Zone 2
- 30-100 ft (reduced fuel)
- Inspection
- Annual spring FFD
Summary
Folsom requires 100 feet of defensible space clearance around structures in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones per California Public Resources Code §4291. The Folsom Fire Department conducts annual inspections in east and south hill neighborhoods bordering Folsom Lake SRA and undeveloped grasslands.
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. This subparagraph does not apply to single specimens of trees or other vegetation that are well-pruned and maintained so as to effectively manage fuels and not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from other nearby vegetation to a structure or from a structure to other nearby vegetation or to interrupt the advance of embers toward a structure. The intensity of fuels management may vary within the 100-foot perimeter of the structure, with more intense fuel reductions being utilized between 5 and 30 feet around the structure, and an ember-resistant zone being required within 5 feet of the structure, based on regulations promulgated by the board, in consultation with the department, to consider the elimination of materials in the ember-resistant zone that would likely be ignited by embers.
(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
Properties in or within 100 feet of the designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ), primarily the east and south foothill neighborhoods of Folsom including areas near Empire Ranch, Prairie Oaks, and boundaries with Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, must maintain defensible space under PRC §4291 and CAL FIRE guidelines. Zone 1 (0–30 feet from structures): remove all dead vegetation, keep grass under 4 inches, trim tree limbs 10 feet from chimneys, remove branches overhanging roof, clear leaves from gutters. Zone 2 (30–100 feet): mow annual grasses to 4 inches, create horizontal spacing between shrubs (2x height on flat ground, more on slopes), vertical spacing between grass and tree canopy (3x shrub height).
Folsom Fire Department conducts spring inspections (typically April–June) and issues correction notices with 30-day compliance windows. Properties that fail reinspection are subject to abatement by the city with costs lien-assessed to the parcel. The new Zone 0 (0–5 feet ember-resistant zone) under AB 3074 requires removal of all combustible vegetation and materials immediately adjacent to structures.
Violations & Fines
Notice of violation issued with 30-day compliance deadline. Non-compliance triggers administrative abatement: city contractors clear vegetation and bill the property owner with a 50% administrative surcharge. Unpaid bills become property tax liens. Repeat violators face fines up to $500 per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my Folsom property is in the VHFHSZ?
Can the city really clear my yard and bill me?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Folsom
California rules heatmap·Compare Folsom to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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