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

MCC Chapter 18.56 adopts and locally implements California's wildland defensible space rules. In State Responsibility Areas (SRA), Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and the wildland-urban interface, owners of structures must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around every habitable building, accessory dwelling, and approved outbuilding under Cal. Public Resources Code section 4291. California's three-zone framework, enforced by CAL FIRE and the Monterey County Regional Fire District, requires: Zone 0 (0-5 feet, ember-resistant) - no combustible mulch, plants, or stored firewood within five feet of the structure; Zone 1 (5-30 feet, lean and green) - clear dead vegetation, trim overhanging branches at least 10 feet from chimneys, keep grass cut to maximum 4 inches; Zone 2 (30-100 feet, reduced fuel) - thin trees and brush, maintain horizontal spacing between shrubs and vertical spacing from grass to lower branches. Cal Fire BEU inspects properties in the Big Sur coast, Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley, Cachagua, Arroyo Seco, and other wildland areas annually. Properties on the coast within the Coastal Zone may require a Coastal Development Permit before removing native vegetation; vegetation management for defensible space is generally exempt but must follow Title 20 standards for protected oaks and habitat.