Redding, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Redding sits in one of California's most fire-prone landscapes — the 2018 Carr Fire destroyed approximately 1,079 homes inside the City of Redding alone. Defensible space is governed by three overlapping layers. (1) California Public Resources Code Section 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around every habitable structure on land covered with flammable material in CAL FIRE State Responsibility Areas — split into Zone 1 (0-30 feet) of lean/clean/green vegetation and Zone 2 (30-100 feet) of reduced and spaced fuel. (2) California Government Code Section 51182 imposes the same 100-foot requirement on parcels in Local Responsibility Area Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones — and the Office of the State Fire Marshal released updated LRA FHSZ maps for Redding on February 24, 2025 that significantly expanded Very High coverage in west Redding, the Sacramento River corridor, and the Mary Lake / Buckeye / Lake Boulevard neighborhoods. AB 3074 added a noncombustible Zone 0 from 0-5 feet around any structure (no wood mulch, no combustible patio furniture, no woody plants against siding). (3) Redding Municipal Code Chapter 9.36 (Weed and Rubbish Abatement) declares dry weeds, dead vegetation, and rubbish that creates a fire hazard a public nuisance, with annual inspection cycles by Redding Fire Department Code Enforcement.