Mountain View, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)
Key Facts
- Defensible space
- 100 feet in fire zones
- Lean clean green
- First 30 feet
- Inspection season
- Spring and early summer
- Authority
- PRC 4291 and Fire Code
- Non-compliance
- Owner-billed abatement
Summary
Property owners must maintain defensible space and remove dry vegetation that poses a fire hazard. Mountain View follows Santa Clara County weed and fire abatement standards.
4291. (a) A person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains a building or structure in the state responsibility area shall at all times do all of the following: (1) (A) Maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure, but not beyond the property line, except as provided in subparagraph (B). The amount of fuel modification necessary shall consider the flammability of the structure as affected by building material, building standards, location, and type of vegetation. Fuels shall be maintained and spaced in a condition so that a wildfire would be unlikely to ignite the structure.
Full Breakdown
Mountain View property owners are responsible for keeping lots free of dry grass, weeds, and combustible debris under the Mountain View City Code nuisance abatement provisions and Santa Clara County Fire Marshal standards. While most of Mountain View is not in a State Responsibility Area or mapped Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, hillside properties near Rancho San Antonio and adjacent open space must comply with California Public Resources Code 4291 defensible space rules: 100 feet of clearance around structures, with a 30-foot lean clean and green zone closest to buildings. The Fire Department issues annual notices in late spring, and non-compliant properties may be abated at the owner expense through administrative citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my flat lot need brush clearance?
Who inspects my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mountain View
California rules heatmap·Compare Mountain View to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Brush Clearance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle brush clearance.