CA.gov Translate Settings Incidents About Us Careers Programs Grants Resources Stats & Events Search Skip to Navigation Request an AB 38 Defensible Space Inspection To schedule an inspection, please use our defensible space inspection request form. Additional AB 38 Information AB 38 Informational Bulletin 21-007 On and after July 1, 2021 when you sell property that is located in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone, you’ll need documentation of a compliant Defensible Space Inspection. If you reside in: Los Angeles County, please visit Los Angeles Defensible Space Orange County, please visit Orange County Fire Authority - Ready, Set, Go Santa Barbara County, please visit Santa Barbara Defensible Space Ventura County, please visit Ventura County Defensible Space Prepare For Wildfire Ready, Set, Go! Get Ready Get Set Go! Evacuation Guide Related Links Govt Code 51182 PRC 4291 Sample LE-100a (English) Sample LE-100a (Spanish) CAL FIRE Defensible Space (Video) Defensible Space Photo Album Ariel View Defensible Space Photo Album Defensible Space Self-Assessment Now you can get a handle on your home’s Defensible Space! By completing this Self-Assessment, you will have a greater understanding of how Defensible Space and Home Hardening can help save your home from the effects of devastating wildfires. Click here to take the assessment. Ready For Wildfire App Build your personalized Wildfire Preparedness Plan and get text messages on active CAL FIRE incidents with the Ready For Wildfire App. Is Your Home Ready? Brochure Download the Wildfire is Coming, Are You Ready? brochure to get your home ready for wildfire. Ready, Set , Go! Brochure Download the Ready, Set, Go! brochure to learn more about preparing your home and your family for Wildfire. Defensible Space Flyer Download the Defensible Space Flyer for a action checklist. Homeowner's Checklist Download the Homeowner's Checklist to make your home fire-resistant inside and out. Defensible Space Keep your property lean and green to help protect your family and home. Defensible space, coupled with home hardening, is essential to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. Defensible space is the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it helps protect your home from catching fire—either from embers, direct flame contact or radiant heat. Proper defensible space also provides firefighters a safe area to work in, to defend your home. Defensible Space Zones Zones 1 and 2 currently make up the 100 feet of defensible space required by law. Assembly Bill 3074, passed into law in 2020, requires a third zone for defensible space. This law requires the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to develop the regulation for a new ember-resistant zone (Zone 0) within 0 to 5 feet of the home by January 1, 2023. The intensity of wildfire fuel management varies within the 100-foot perimeter of the home, with more intense fuels’ reduction occurring closer to your home. Start at the home and work your way out to 100 feet or to your property line, whichever is closer. Zone 0 - Ember Resistant Zone Zone 0 extends 5 feet from buildings, structures, decks, etc. The ember-resistant zone is currently not required by law, but science has proven it to be the most important of all the defensible space zones. This zone includes the area under and around all attached decks, and requires the most stringent wildfire fuel reduction. The ember-resistant zone is designed to keep fire or embers from igniting materials that can spread the fire to your home. The following provides guidance for this zone, which may change based on the regulation developed by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. Use hardscape like gravel, pavers, concrete and other noncombustible mulch materials. No combustible bark or mulch Remove all dead and dying weeds, grass, plants, shrubs, trees, branches and vegetative debris (leaves, needles, cones,bark, etc.); Check your roofs, gutters, decks, porches, stairways, etc. Remove all branches within 10 feet of any chimney or stovepipe outlet Limit plants in this area to low growing, nonwoody, properly watered and maintained plants Limit combustible items (outdoor furniture, planters, etc.) on top of decks Relocate firewood and lumber to Zone 2 Replace combustible fencing, gates, and arbors attach to the home with noncombustible alternatives Consider relocating garbage and recycling containers outside this zone Consider relocating boats, RVs, vehicles and other combustible items outside this zone Zone 1 – Lean, Clean and Green Zone Zone 1 extends 30 feet from buildings, structures, decks, etc. or to your property line, whichever is closer. Remove all dead plants, grass and weeds (vegetation). Remove dead or dry leaves and pine needles from your yard, roof and rain gutters. Remove branches that hang over your roof and keep dead branches 10 feet away from your chimney. Trim trees regularly to keep branches a minimum of 10 feet from other trees. Relocate wood piles to Zone 2. Remove or prune flammable plants and shrubs near windows. Remove vegetation and items that could catch fire from around and under decks, balconies and stairs. Create a separation between trees, shrubs and items that could catch fire, such as patio furniture, wood piles, swing sets, etc. Zone 2 – Reduce Fuel Zone Zone 2 extends from 30 feet to 100 feet out from buildings, structures, decks, etc. or to your property line, whichever is closer. Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches. Create horizontal space between shrubs and trees. (See diagram) Create vertical space between grass, shrubs and trees. (See diagram) Remove fallen leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches. However, they may be permitted to a depth of 3 inches. All exposed wood piles must have a minimum of 10 feet of clearance, down to bare mineral soil, in all directions. Zone 1 and 2 “Outbuildings” and Liquid Propane Gas (LPG) storage tanks shall have 10 feet of clearance to bare mineral soil and no flammable vegetation for an additional 10 feet around their exterior. Local Ordnance Many local government agencies have local ordinances for defensible space or weed abatement. These local ordinances will often be more stringent than the State’s minimum requirements listed above (e.g., San Diego County requires 50 feet of clearance in Zone 1). Check with your local fire department or fire protection district for any additional defensible space or weed abatement ordinance requirements. To search local ordinances near you, click here for a list of statewide municipal codes. Plant and Tree Spacing The spacing between grass, shrubs, and trees is crucial to reduce the spread of wildfires. The spacing needed is determined by the type and size of brush and trees, as well as the slope of the land. For example, a property on a steep slope with larger vegetation requires greater spacing between trees and shrubs than a level property that has small, sparse vegetation. Vertical Spacing Remove all tree branches at least 6 feet from the ground. Allow extra vertical space between shrubs and trees. Lack of vertical space can allow a fire to move from the ground to the brush to the treetops like a ladder. This leads to more intense fire closer to your home. To determine the proper vertical spacing between shrubs and the lowest branches of trees, use the formula below. Example: A five-foot shrub is growing near a tree. 3x5 = 15 feet of clearance needed between the top of the shrub and the lowest tree branch. Horizontal Spacing Horizontal spacing depends on the slope of the land and the height of the shrubs or trees. Check the chart below to determine spacing distance. Fire Wise Landscaping Proper landscaping for wildfire isn’t necessarily the same thing as a well-maintained yard. This type of landscaping focuses on plant characteristics, properties and maintenance to resist the spread of fire to your home. The good news is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to make your landscape wildfire resilient and reduce the risk to your home. Through proper planning and routine maintenance, you can conserve water and create a beautiful landscape. Back to Top Accessibility Web Accessibility Cert (PDF) Conditions of Use Privacy Policy Site Map Copyright ©2021 State of California