Cal. Public Resources Code §4291 (Defensible Space) requires 100 feet of cleared, maintained defensible space around structures in the State Responsibility Area, which covers most of unincorporated Madera County. Annual grass must be cut to 4 inches; trees trimmed 10 ft apart and 6 ft up from ground. CAL FIRE MMU and the Madera County Fire Marshal enforce.
Cal. Public Resources Code §4291 (Defensible Space) requires every person who owns, leases, controls, operates or maintains an occupied dwelling or structure in or adjoining mountainous, forest, brush, or grass-covered land in the SRA to maintain defensible space of 100 feet. Zone 1 (0-30 ft) and Zone 2 (30-100 ft) must be cleared and maintained per CAL FIRE standards. Madera County Fire Marshal applies PRC §4290 to new development. Standard maintenance includes mowing annual grasses to 4 inches maximum, trimming branches a minimum of 10 ft from other trees, and removing tree branches at least 6 feet from the ground. The Eastern Madera County Fire Safe Council coordinates community-level brush clearance and chipper programs.
PRC §4291 violations are infractions with fines starting at $100 and rising up to $500. CAL FIRE can also charge the cost of forced abatement to the property owner. Insurance companies use compliance with PRC §4291 in underwriting decisions.
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See how Madera's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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