What is Defensible Space?

Defensible space is the buffer zone that you create between your home and the plants, brush, trees, or other items surrounding your home that could ignite in the event of a fire.The establishment and maintenance of proper defensible space helps to protect your property and community from the risk and spread of wildfire.

There are several proactive and cost-effective measures you can take to not only meet your defensible space requirement, but also protect your home.

• Know your zones
• Request a defensible space inspection or assessment to learn what is necessary
• Start from your home and/or structure and work your way out

Zone 0 - Ember Resistant Zone (0-5 feet)

• Remove all combustible plants and replace with gravel, pavers, or concrete
• Keep roofs, gutters, decks/porches, and stairways clear of vegetation and combustible materials
• Replace combustible fencing, gates, and arbors that are attached to home with noncombustible materials

Zone 1 - Lean, Clean, and Green Zone (5-30 feet)

• Remove all dead plants, grass, and weeds
• Clear dead leaves and pine needles from your yard, structures, rain gutters, and roofs
• Remove or separate live flammable ground cover and shrubs
• Remove all branches within 10 feet of chimneys/stove pipes

Zone 2 - Reduced Fuel Zone (30-100 feet)

• Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of 4 inches
• Create horizontal spacing between shrubs and trees
• Clear lower vegetation that could lead to a fire climbing into the tree canopy