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Defensible space clearing guide: Central Coast
CAL FIRE's 100-foot zones, local weed abatement deadlines for Monterey, SLO and Santa Barbara counties, and a checklist you can hand to your operator.
Last updated November 2, 2026 · Request work
The zonesPlant spacingCounty deadlinesChecklistWhat a tractor can doFAQ
California's defensible space law, Public Resources Code 4291, applies to buildings in the State Responsibility Area and in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas. Many counties and cities add their own weed abatement rules on top. Check your parcel on the Fire Hazard Severity Zone map. In most of rural Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, assume it applies. The required distance is 100 feet from structures, or to the property line if that's closer.
The three zones
| Zone | Distance | Goal | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 0 — ember-resistant | 0–5 ft | Keep embers from igniting anything against the house | Remove bark and wood mulch, dead plants, leaves and needles. Nothing combustible under decks. No firewood. Use gravel, pavers or bare soil. (Statewide rule pending. See below) |
| Zone 1 — lean, clean & green | 5–30 ft | Keep fire from reaching the house | Remove all dead plants, grass and weeds. Clear roofs and gutters. Keep branches 10 ft from chimneys and trim them off the roof. Space trees and shrubs. Move woodpiles out to Zone 2 |
| Zone 2 — reduce fuel | 30–100 ft | Slow the fire and keep it on the ground | Cut annual grass to 4 in max. Create horizontal and vertical space between plants. Remove ladder fuels. Litter up to 3 in deep may stay. Clear 10 ft to bare soil around exposed woodpiles |
Plant spacing in Zone 2
CAL FIRE's spacing guidance scales with slope, because fire runs uphill faster:
| Slope | Trees (canopy to canopy) | Shrubs (between shrubs) |
|---|---|---|
| Flat to mild (under 20%) | 10 ft | 2× the shrub height |
| Mild to moderate (20–40%) | 20 ft | 4× the shrub height |
| Moderate to steep (over 40%) | 30 ft | 6× the shrub height |
Vertical spacing: to remove ladder fuels, leave clear space under a tree equal to three times the height of the shrubs beneath it. Example: with 5-foot shrubs under an oak, limb the oak up to at least 15 feet, or remove the shrubs. In general, limb trees up about 6 feet from the ground, or to a third of the tree's height on small trees.
Central Coast deadlines and local rules
| Area | Deadline | Local specifics | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey County (MCRFD and other districts; CAL FIRE BEU in SRA) | Before late-spring / early-summer inspections. Your district's notice sets the date | 30-ft lean, clean, green zone + 70-ft reduced fuel. Grass to 4 in | MCRFD |
| Unincorporated SLO County (CAL FIRE / SLO County Fire) | 15 days after a Notice to Abate | 30-ft perimeter break on parcels ≥ 1 acre, cut to 4 in. Exemptions for grazed pasture, hay and grain, and vineyards kept to 4 in | County Fire |
| SLO County cities (Paso Robles, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, SLO) | June 1 | Morro Bay is June 15. City rules apply inside city limits | City of SLO |
| Santa Barbara County (County Fire) | June 1. Inspections begin | 10 ft clearance each side of access roads. 13 ft 6 in overhead. Trees 10–15 ft apart. About 3 weeks to comply with a notice | SB County Fire |
Selling a home? Under AB 38, sellers in High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones need documentation of a compliant defensible space inspection. SLO County Fire and Santa Barbara County Fire both take inspection requests, and SLO County charges a fee for LRA inspections. Get the clearing done before you book the inspection.
Defensible space checklist
Zone 0 (0–5 ft)
- Replace bark or wood-chip mulch against the house with gravel, pavers or bare soil
- Remove dead plants, leaves and needles from the base of walls and under decks and stairs
- Move firewood, lumber, cushions and trash cans away from the house
- Clean roofs and gutters
Zone 1 (5–30 ft)
- Remove all dead plants, grass and weeds
- Trim branches overhanging the roof. Keep trees 10 ft from chimneys
- Space shrubs and trees so they don't form a continuous path to the house
- Keep the lawn or groundcover green or mowed short
- Move woodpiles out to Zone 2
Zone 2 (30–100 ft)
- Mow or disc annual grass and weeds to 4 inches or less
- Space shrubs and trees per the slope table above
- Limb up trees and remove the brush beneath them (ladder fuels)
- Clear 10 ft to bare soil around any exposed woodpile
Access and the rest of the property
- Clear 10 ft each side of the driveway. Trim overhead to 13 ft 6 in
- Make sure your address is visible from the road
- Cut a 30-ft perimeter break if your county or city requires one (SLO County: parcels ≥ 1 acre)
- Keep hoses that reach all sides of every building
What a tractor operator can do, and what it can't
A tractor or track machine handles the big, open part: Zone 2 grass and brush, perimeter breaks, roadside clearance and mulching hillsides. That's usually the bulk of the acreage and the part you can't easily do yourself. Zone 0 and close-in Zone 1 work around the house is usually hand work: raking, pruning and moving mulch. Many operators bring a helper or a chipper for it, so mention it when you request.
See methods and costs on the brush clearing page, or request work with the form. Tell us acres, slope and your deadline.
FAQ
What are the CAL FIRE defensible space zones?
Zone 0 is 0 to 5 feet from the structure (the ember-resistant zone). Zone 1 is 5 to 30 feet (lean, clean and green). Zone 2 is 30 to 100 feet (reduced fuel). Required clearance is 100 feet or to the property line, whichever is closer.
Is Zone 0 required yet?
Not statewide, as of November 2, 2026. The Board of Forestry adopted Zone 0 regulations on August 19, 2026, but the package was withdrawn from Office of Administrative Law review on September 8, 2026 for edits, and no effective date has been set. CAL FIRE still recommends doing Zone 0 work now.
How short does grass need to be?
Annual grass and weeds should be cut to a maximum of 4 inches in Zone 2. The SLO County, Santa Barbara County and Monterey County Regional Fire standards all use 4 inches.
What if my property line is closer than 100 feet?
You clear to your property line. You may not be required to clear a neighbor's land, though some local ordinances and neighbors coordinate shared breaks.
Who inspects defensible space on the Central Coast?
CAL FIRE's San Benito-Monterey Unit and local districts such as Monterey County Regional Fire in Monterey County. CAL FIRE / SLO County Fire and city fire departments in SLO County. Santa Barbara County Fire in most of Santa Barbara County.
Sources & official links
- CAL FIRE — Defensible space (Ready for Wildfire)
- Board of Forestry — Defensible Space Zones 0, 1 and 2 (Zone 0 rulemaking status)
- CAL FIRE / OSFM — Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps
- Monterey County Regional Fire District — Wildland inspection program
- CAL FIRE / San Luis Obispo County Fire — County hazard (weed) abatement
- City of San Luis Obispo — Weed abatement (June 1 for undeveloped lots)
- Santa Barbara County Fire — Defensible Space Program
- Santa Barbara County Fire — Defensible space deadline is June 1
Rules change. Always confirm with the agency before you start work. Last checked November 2, 2026.