Santa Clara County, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

California Public Resources Code 4291 and Government Code 51182 require property owners in State Responsibility Areas and Local Responsibility Area Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones to maintain 100 feet of defensible space around all structures, or to the property line, whichever is closer. The defensible space is divided into Zone 1 (0 to 30 feet from structures) requiring lean, clean, and green vegetation with irrigated plants, horizontal and vertical spacing between trees and shrubs, and removal of dead material; and Zone 2 (30 to 100 feet) requiring reduced fuel with grass cut to 4 inches, shrub spacing proportional to slope, and limbed-up trees. Assembly Bill 3074 established Zone 0, the ember-resistant zone within 5 feet of structures, requiring removal of flammable mulch, wood fences attached to the home, and combustible items. CAL FIRE, Santa Clara County Fire Department, and local fire districts such as Santa Clara County Central Fire and South Santa Clara County Fire conduct annual inspections. Failure to comply can result in notices of violation, abatement by contractors at owner expense, and fines.