Washington County, OR Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Unlike California, Oregon does not impose a flat 100-foot defensible space mandate; requirements flow from SB 762 (2021), Oregon Department of Forestry hazard mapping, and local fire agency rules. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) serves most of the county including Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood, and much of unincorporated Washington County. Forest Grove Fire & Rescue and Banks Fire District 13 serve the northwest/agricultural portions. In mapped WUI areas — concentrated west of Forest Grove toward Gales Creek, around Bull Mountain, Cooper Mountain, and Chehalem Mountain — property owners are expected to maintain 30 feet of lean/clean/green defensible space around structures and an additional reduced-fuel zone out to 100 feet where lot size allows, consistent with Oregon's Statewide Fire Code appendices. Oregon Department of Forestry enforces industrial and slash burning standards in the Forest Grove District. Homes along the urban growth boundary (UGB) transition into rural-residential zones (AF-5, AF-10, AF-20, EFU) where clearance is especially important. During regulated use closure (typically June-October), chainsaw and power equipment use is restricted to early morning hours.