Napa County, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)
Key Facts
- Local Ordinance
- Napa County Code Ch. 8.36 (Ord. 1467)
- State Law
- Cal. PRC 4291 - 100 ft defensible space
- Zone 0
- 0-5 ft ember-resistant (AB 3074)
- Compliance Window
- 14 days from abatement order
- Inspection
- Annual LE-100 in VHFHSZ
Summary
Napa County Code Chapter 8.36 (Fire Protection - Fire Hazard Abatement), as amended by Ordinance 1467, requires defensible space around all structures and treats unmaintained vegetation as a public nuisance subject to abatement. California Public Resources Code Section 4291 layers state-level 100-foot clearance requirements in the State Responsibility Area.
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
Chapter 8.36 of the Napa County Code declares the presence of prohibited vegetative materials within the defensible space surrounding any structure, and on undeveloped parcels of one acre or less, to be a public nuisance subject to abatement. Ordinance No. 1467 (2021) updated Section 8.36.030 and adopted the county's Defensible Space Guidelines by Board resolution, aligning local rules with California Public Resources Code Section 4291 and the CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit inspection program. PRC 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space in the State Responsibility Area: Zone 0 ember-resistant area 0-5 feet from structures (per AB 3074), Zone 1 lean-clean-green 5-30 feet, and Zone 2 reduced fuel 30-100 feet. The enforcement officer issues an order of abatement, after which the property owner has 14 calendar days to comply before the county can abate at the owner's cost. Annual LE-100 inspections occur in VHFHSZ neighborhoods following the Atlas and Glass Fires.
Violations & Fines
Failure to abate within 14 days of a Chapter 8.36 order of abatement allows Napa County to perform the work and assess the cost as a special tax lien on the property. PRC 4291 violations in the SRA are punishable by fines up to $500 per day per violation. Properties may also lose insurance coverage and face civil liability under HSC 13009 if fire spread originates from neglected fuel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much defensible space is required around my Napa County home?
What happens if I don't clear my brush?
Who inspects defensible space in Napa County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Napa County
California rules heatmap·Compare Napa County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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