San Ramon, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Portions of San Ramon adjacent to open space, ridgelines, and canyon areas — including parts of Bollinger Canyon, Norris Canyon, Dougherty Hills, and the Las Trampas Regional Wilderness boundary — are mapped as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) by CAL FIRE. Under California Public Resources Code Section 4291, property owners in these zones must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around every structure, or to the property line if closer. California's three-zone system applies: Zone 0 (Ember-Resistant Zone, 0-5 feet) requires removal of all combustible vegetation, mulch, wood fences attached to the house, and stored combustibles per AB 3074. Zone 1 (Lean, Clean, and Green, 5-30 feet) requires removal of dead vegetation, tree limbs within 10 feet of chimneys, and separation between plantings. Zone 2 (Reduced Fuel, 30-100 feet) requires grass cut to 4 inches or less, horizontal and vertical spacing between trees and shrubs, and removal of ladder fuels. SRVFPD conducts annual defensible space inspections starting in late spring, and non-compliance notices require correction typically within 30 days. Uncorrected violations can result in city abatement with costs billed to the property owner as a lien, plus administrative fines. At time of sale, California Civil Code Section 1102.19 requires sellers in VHFHSZ to disclose defensible space compliance and provide the buyer with a statement of compliance prior to close of escrow.