What defensible space means under state law
Sonoma-Marin Tree Service connects homeowners in Sonoma and Marin counties with local tree and brush contractors for defensible space and fire clearance work. California's baseline rule is Public Resources Code 4291, which applies to homes in or near wildland areas. It calls for up to 100 feet of defensible space around a structure, or to the property line if that is closer, with the most intense clearing in the first 30 feet and reduced fuel from 30 to 100 feet. It also requires removing any part of a tree within 10 feet of a chimney or stovepipe outlet. Local ordinances can be stricter than the state minimum.
Zone 0: the first 5 feet
A 2020 state law, AB 3074, directed the Board of Forestry to adopt rules for an ember-resistant zone within 5 feet of homes. The Board adopted emergency Zone 0 regulations on August 19, 2026 and sent them to the Office of Administrative Law on August 28, 2026; as of our latest check we had not confirmed that they are in effect. As adopted, they apply to structures in the State Responsibility Area and to occupied structures in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in local areas. For existing homes, roof, gutter, firewood, and dead-branch items apply first, with mulch and vegetation changes phased in over three years and fences and outbuildings over five, on local schedules. Fire Safe Marin has described the rules as under further review. For the tree side of this, see roof clearance and limb removal.
Marin: Wildfire Risk Reports
The Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, funded by Measure C, works with local fire agencies to evaluate about a third of the county's roughly 87,000 residential parcels each year, so most homes are seen about every three years. Each home gets a Wildfire Risk Report, and some items on it are legally required. Correction deadlines are set by your fire agency, so read your report carefully.
San Rafael goes further: vegetation standards under its Chapter 4.12 now apply citywide and require removing juniper, bamboo, acacia, and Italian cypress, with only short grass or succulents allowed within 5 feet of the house. The city fire department has been citing violations.
Sonoma: hazardous vegetation inspections
In unincorporated Sonoma County, Chapter 13A covers hazardous vegetation on both improved and unimproved parcels. It calls for a 30-foot "lean, clean and green" zone and a reduced-fuel zone from 30 to 100 feet. Permit Sonoma and the fire districts run thousands of inspections a year, and uncorrected violations can be abated by the county with costs liened to the property. In Santa Rosa, the Chapter 9-32 wildland-urban interface ordinance covers roughly 9,000 parcels in areas such as Fountaingrove, Oakmont, and Bennett Valley, and includes removing fire-damaged dead trees and listed hazardous plants. Hillside areas around Glen Ellen and Kenwood fall under the county rules.
What the work usually includes
- Removing dead trees, dead branches, and dead brush, especially near the house
- Limbing up trees to separate the canopy from shrubs and grass below
- Clearing limbs off the roof and away from the chimney
- Removing juniper, cypress, and other flammable shrubs next to the house
- Thinning dense brush and spacing shrubs on slopes
- Chipping and hauling, or spreading chips away from the home
Larger projects that shade into lot clearing or dead tree removal are often done at the same visit.
Who should do it
CSLB has no "defensible space" license. Tree removal and limbing are tree work, licensed in the C-49 Tree and Palm classification (or the older D-49). Brush clearing without tree work may fall under C-27 Landscaping. Before you hire anyone, look the contractor up at cslb.ca.gov and ask for a certificate of liability insurance. Check licenses at cslb.ca.gov. This site is not affiliated with any fire agency.
Have a report or notice to work through? Call (707) 634-8593 or request an estimate and we'll connect you with a local contractor.
Tree services in Sonoma County & Marin County
- Tree Removal → Removal of dead, leaning, diseased, and unwanted trees, including large oaks, redwoods, and eucalyptus on tight or sloped lots.
- Storm-Damaged & Fallen Tree Removal → Fallen trees, split trunks, hanging limbs, and trees on roofs, fences, or driveways after North Bay winter storms.
- Tree Trimming & Pruning → Crown thinning, deadwood removal, structural pruning, and clearance pruning for oaks, redwoods, and ornamentals.
- Stump Grinding & Removal → Grinding stumps and surface roots below grade so you can replant, lay lawn, or build, plus full stump removal where needed.
- Arborist Reports & Tree Permits → Arborist reports for city and county tree removal permits, protected and heritage trees, and construction near trees.
- Defensible Space & Fire Clearance → Limbing up, juniper and brush removal, dead tree removal, and chipping for Marin evaluations and Sonoma inspections.
- Oak Tree Removal & Sudden Oak Death → Dead and dying coast live oaks, tanoaks, and valley oaks, including Sudden Oak Death losses and protected-oak permits.
- Eucalyptus Tree Removal → Taking down tall, brittle blue gum eucalyptus near homes, roads, and fire zones, and dealing with regrowth.
- Redwood Tree Removal & Trimming → Redwoods crowding foundations, driveways, and sewer lines, thinning redwood groves, and removals where a permit allows.
- Crane Tree Removal → Crane-assisted removals for big trees over houses, on steep hillside lots, and anywhere there is no room to drop or rig.
- Dead & Hazardous Tree Removal → Dead, dying, cracked, and leaning trees that threaten the house, the street, or the neighbors, with the paperwork hazard removals need.
- Roof Clearance & Limb Removal → Lifting limbs off roofs, gutters, chimneys, and decks for fire clearance, insurance letters, and plain peace of mind.
- Tree Risk Assessment → A qualified look at a leaning, cracked, or hollow tree before a storm decides for you, with a written recommendation.
- Lot Clearing & Brush Chipping → Clearing overgrown lots, thinning small trees and brush, and chipping or hauling the debris for building, fire safety, or sale.
- Fruit Tree & Olive Pruning → Dormant and summer pruning for backyard orchards, old olives, and heritage fruit trees on wine country properties.
- Palm Tree Trimming & Removal → Skinning and trimming tall palms, removing dead fronds and seed pods, and taking out palms that have outgrown the lot.
- Tree Cabling & Bracing → Support systems for split trunks and heavy limbs on trees worth keeping, installed and inspected to industry standards.
- Insurance-Required Tree Removal → Clearing trees and limbs an insurer has flagged before a policy renewal or non-renewal deadline, with documentation.
- View Pruning → Opening up bay, hill, and valley views with selective thinning and reduction that keeps the tree healthy and the neighbors on side.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a tree permit to clear defensible space?
In unincorporated Sonoma County, defensible-space work under PRC 4291 or the county hazardous vegetation ordinance, and dead or hazard trees within the defensible-space zone, are exempt from the tree permit requirement. Cities set their own rules, and Marin towns vary, so check before removing a large protected tree for fire clearance.
Is Zone 0 in effect yet?
As of our latest check, the Board of Forestry adopted emergency Zone 0 regulations on August 19, 2026 and submitted them to the Office of Administrative Law on August 28, 2026, but we have not confirmed that they have taken effect. Many of the early items, such as dead branches and debris on roofs and in gutters, are good practice regardless. Check with your local fire agency for current status.
Can I get help paying for clearing?
Sometimes. Fire Safe Marin runs curbside chipper days, Sonoma County launched a free curbside chipper program for the 2026 season, and Fire Safe Sonoma has offered no-cost clearing for a limited number of underserved households. Availability changes each year, so check those programs first; a contractor handles what they do not cover.
Will clearing guarantee I pass inspection or keep my insurance?
No one can guarantee that. Inspections are done by your fire agency, and insurers make their own decisions. What a contractor can do is complete the specific items on your report or notice and give you an itemized invoice and photos to document the work.
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