Rohnert Park, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Department of Public Safety, Fire Marshal
- First inspection
- All vacant parcels, before July 1
- Second inspection
- By September 1
- Non-compliance
- City abates and bills the owner
- Reference standard
- Information Bulletin 060
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 and 6 months
Summary
Rohnert Park requires every property owner to keep lots free of weeds, grass and vegetation that could spread wildfire under amended Fire Code Section 304.1.3.1, enforced through an annual fuel management inspection of every vacant parcel before July 1, with a second round by September 1 and unresolved hazards abated at the owner's expense.
Weeds, grass, vines or other growth that is capable of being ignited and endangering property, shall be cut down and removed by the owner or occupant of the premises. Vegetation clearance requirements are defined by Information Bulletin 060. ... Every person who owns or controls a lot or parcel of property within the City limits shall maintain them free from lumber and rubbish, weeds, grasses or vegetative growth which contributes to the spread of wildfire. The Department of Public Safety shall perform an annual fuel management inspection program wherein every vacant parcel is evaluated for debris accumulation and vegetative growth before July 1.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
3, requiring that weeds, grass, vines or other growth capable of being ignited and endangering property be cut down and removed by the property's owner or occupant, with vegetation clearance specifics spelled out in the Department of Public Safety's Information Bulletin 060. 1, Hazardous Vegetation and Fuel Management, which applies to every lot or parcel in the city: owners and anyone controlling the property must keep it free of lumber, rubbish, weeds, grasses or vegetative growth that contributes to wildfire spread. The Department of Public Safety runs an annual fuel management inspection, evaluating every vacant parcel for debris accumulation and vegetative growth before July 1 and mailing the owner written notice of any hazard found.
The owner must abate the hazard to the department's current standard; if the owner or manager does not respond in time, the fire marshal is authorized to have the property abated and bill the owner for the cost. A second inspection round follows by September 1 each year, with its own notices and abatements, and the department is not limited to only those two rounds. Follow-up inspections after a notice are billed to the property owner at the rate set in the current Fire Services Fee Schedule.
Violations & Fines
Failing to abate hazardous vegetation after notice lets the fire marshal enter and clear the property, billing the owner for the full abatement cost plus the follow-up inspection fee from the current Fire Services Fee Schedule. Beyond cost recovery, violating Chapter 15.28's fire code provisions is a misdemeanor under Section 15.04.060, punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail unless charged as an infraction, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Rohnert Park inspect vacant lots for fire hazards?
What happens if I don't clear weeds after getting a notice?
Does this brush clearance rule apply to occupied homes too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rohnert Park
California rules heatmap·Compare Rohnert Park to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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Brush Clearance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sonoma County handle brush clearance.