Tulare County, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Tulare County Code Part 4 Chapter 11 (Fire Hazardous Weeds and Rubbish) protects lands, fields, lots, and homes from the spread of fire between properties. Vacant parcels of 5 acres or smaller must keep all weeds and grass at no more than 3 inches in height. Parcels larger than 5 acres must provide 30-foot wide fuelbreaks along all boundaries plus 15-foot wide crossbreaks that divide the parcel into approximately 5-acre sections. For improved parcels (those with structures), the owner must provide a 30-foot fuelbreak around all structures and combustible storage, and road right-of-ways and driveways must be cleared a minimum of 10 feet horizontally from the edge of the pavement or concrete. Properties must be maintained during the high fire months (typically April through October). All disking or mowing should be completed before 10:00 a.m. to limit ignition risk during peak heat. The County Fire Hazard Abatement Program inspects and issues notices; if the owner fails to comply within the abatement period, the County may impose administrative fines and recover civil, administrative, and abatement costs through liens or special assessments against the property. In the foothill/mountain State Responsibility Area, California Public Resources Code sections 4291-4291.5 also requires 100 feet of defensible space around habitable structures.