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

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 Lassen County's forested-mountain and high-desert 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 three zones: Zone 0 (0-5 feet, the ember-resistant 'immediate' zone) requires removing dead vegetation, leaves, and pine needles and keeping the area adjacent 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. The Lassen County Code also addresses fire hazards through Chapter 9.16 (Fire Hazards), which the county has amended over time (e.g., Ordinance 2020-03). CAL FIRE inspects SRA parcels for compliance; under state law, defensible-space violations can carry fines up to $20,000 per violation. Defensible space also affects insurance availability and, in real-estate sales of homes in fire hazard zones, AB 38 documentation.