Santa Clara County, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Most of unincorporated Santa Clara County is wildland or wildland-urban interface, and property owners must create defensible space under California Public Resources Code (PRC) 4291. The law requires clearing flammable vegetation for 100 feet around buildings and structures (or to the property line). The Santa Clara County Fire Department instructs owners to 'create a defensible space around all structures by clearing flammable vegetation to a minimum of 100 feet or to the property line,' remove tree limbs within 10 feet of chimneys and stovepipes, and clear pine needles and leaves from roofs, eaves, and gutters. CAL FIRE's defensible-space framework divides the 100 feet into zones: an ember-resistant 0-5 foot Zone 0 immediately around the home, a 'lean, clean and green' 5-30 foot Zone 1, and a reduced-fuel 30-100 foot Zone 2; annual grasses must be mowed to a low height (CAL FIRE specifies a 4-inch maximum). Senate Bill 63 created a Defensible Space Inspection Program (effective 2022) that empowers local fire marshals in high-risk areas to inspect properties and issue administrative notices requiring vegetation management within set timeframes. The county fire marshal carries out these inspections in unincorporated areas. To reduce ignition risk, the Fire Department also advises mowing dry grass before 10 a.m. and never running mowers or string trimmers over dry grass, which can throw sparks.