Within the Sonoma Valley Fire District jurisdiction (which includes the City of Sonoma), annual grasses must be cut to a maximum of 4 inches and maintained as defensible space out to 100 feet from any structure, mirroring California Public Resources Code § 4291 and Sonoma Valley Fire District (SVFRA) Annual Weed Abatement Regulations.
California Public Resources Code § 4291 requires property owners in State Responsibility Areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (which include most of the Sonoma Valley) to maintain 100 feet of defensible space, with annual grasses cut or mowed to a maximum height of four (4) inches. The City of Sonoma adopts and locally amends the California Fire Code through SMC Chapter 14.10 (SMC § 14.10.045 — 2022 California Fire Code amendments), authorizing the fire chief to declare combustible vegetation a hazard and order abatement. The Sonoma Valley Fire District (SVFRA) administers the program citywide through its Annual Weed Abatement Program. Zone 1 (0-30 ft from a structure) must be 'lean, clean, and green'; Zone 2 (30-100 ft) is a 'reduced fuels zone' where grass is mowed to 4 inches and ladder fuels are removed. Ornamental, irrigated turf is exempt from the height rule when kept green and not adjacent to wildland fuels.
After inspection, owners who fail receive a written notice and have 30 calendar days to abate. If the owner does not comply, SVFRA / the fire chief may cause the work to be performed and bill the owner for actual abatement cost plus an administrative fee, which becomes a lien on the property under SMC § 14.10.045 and Government Code §§ 38773.1-38773.5. Continuing violations are also subject to administrative citations under SMC Title 1.
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