Nevada County, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)
Key Facts
- Defensible space
- 100 ft around structures (PRC 4291)
- County ordinance
- Code Article 7, Sec. G-IV 7.1 et seq. (Ord. 2463)
- Grass/weed height
- Cut to 4 inches or lower
- Roadway clearance
- 10 ft beyond shoulder, 15 ft vertical (G-IV 7.4.C)
- Chimney clearance
- Remove tree limbs within 10 ft of chimney/stovepipe
- Enforcement
- CAL FIRE, local fire districts, county; lien for abatement
Summary
Property owners in unincorporated Nevada County must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures under California PRC 4291, and the county's Hazardous Vegetation and Combustible Material Abatement Ordinance (Code Article 7, Sec. G-IV 7.1 et seq.) extends those duties to adjacent parcels and roadways. Vegetation must be cleared 10 feet beyond road shoulders to a 15-foot vertical height.
Hazardous Vegetation and Combustible Materials within one hundred (100') feet of a structure (or greater as determined by the Public Official) or along roadways that serve as primary ingress and egress routes, are hereby declared to be a public nuisance that may be abated in accordance with this Chapter, and by any other means available by law.
Full Breakdown
Defensible space is mandatory in unincorporated Nevada County. California Public Resources Code 4291 requires up to 100 feet of defensible space around buildings (but not beyond the property line), with the most intense fuel reduction closest to the structure. Nevada County adopted Article 7 of the County Code - the Hazardous Vegetation and Combustible Material Abatement Ordinance (Sec. , adopted by Ordinance No. 2463) - which the county says extends and supplements PRC 4291, applying the same treatment requirements to parcels adjacent to improved parcels and along emergency access/evacuation routes.
The ordinance declares hazardous vegetation and combustible materials within 100 feet of a structure (or along primary ingress/egress roads) a public nuisance (Sec. 4). Owners must maintain 100 feet of defensible space on each side and front/rear of a structure; keep weeds and grasses cut to 4 inches or lower; remove ladder fuels and dead/dying wood; clear roof and gutters of needles and leaves; and remove tree limbs within 10 feet of a chimney. Along roadways serving as primary ingress/egress, owners must maintain a 10-foot strip beyond the road shoulder cleared to a 15-foot vertical height (Sec. C). Inspections and enforcement are handled by CAL FIRE, local fire districts, and county officials.
Violations & Fines
Under Sec. G-IV 7.15-7.16, failing to abate is an infraction or misdemeanor. As a local safety code, infraction fines run up to $130 (first), $700 (second within a year), and $1,300 (each additional within a year) under Government Code 25132; a misdemeanor is punishable by up to six months in county jail and/or a fine up to $1,000. If the county abates the nuisance, the costs become a special assessment and lien on the property, and repeat violations within two years can trigger treble abatement costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much defensible space do I need in Nevada County?
What are the brush rules along my driveway or road?
What happens if I don't clear hazardous vegetation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nevada County
California rules heatmap·Compare Nevada County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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