California requires property owners in fire hazard zones to maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures, applying uniformly across State and Local Responsibility Areas.
Public Resources Code Section 4291 mandates that any person owning, leasing, or controlling occupied dwellings or structures in State Responsibility Areas (SRA) or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) maintain defensible space to 100 feet from each structure. Zone 0 (0-5 feet) must be ember-resistant under AB 3074. Zone 1 (5-30 feet) requires lean, clean, and green landscaping. Zone 2 (30-100 feet) requires reduced fuels. CAL FIRE inspects compliance. Local jurisdictions may impose stricter requirements but cannot reduce the 100-foot statewide minimum.
Violations are misdemeanors punishable by fines from $100 to $500 for first offense; CAL FIRE may also bill abatement costs.
See how Sonoma's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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