Seminole County, FL Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)
Key Facts
- Recommended clearance
- 30 feet around home
- Mandatory width
- None by ordinance
- Approach
- Firewise defensible space
- Enforceable via
- Nuisance/weed rules
- Setting
- Wildland-urban interface
Summary
Seminole County has no ordinance mandating a fixed cleared width, but the county strongly recommends a defensible space of at least 30 feet around each home in this wildfire-prone area. Overgrown lots may still be cited under separate nuisance and weed ordinances.
create and maintain a defensible space of at least 30 feet around their homes by regularly mowing grass, removing dead vegetation, and trimming back combustible landscaping materials
Full Breakdown
Because much of Seminole County borders wildlands, the county's wildfire guidance urges residents to create and maintain a defensible space of at least 30 feet around their homes by mowing grass, removing dead vegetation, and trimming combustible landscaping. This is a Firewise best practice, not a numbered mandate. There is no county brush-clearance ordinance imposing a specific perimeter as some Western states have. However, tall grass, weeds, and accumulated debris on a lot can be enforced under the county's nuisance and property-maintenance provisions, so keeping vegetation managed serves both fire safety and code compliance.
Violations & Fines
No fine for the 30-foot recommendation itself; overgrown or debris-covered lots can be cited under county nuisance/property-maintenance rules with abatement costs billed to the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I required to clear brush around my house?
What is defensible space?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Seminole County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Seminole County to another location·View the Florida fire regulations overview
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