What the Rules Actually Require
Defensible space is the law here, and inspections start every April.
Every property in 95033 that sits in a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone is required by California law (Public Resources Code 4291) to maintain 100 feet of defensible space year-round. That is most of us. This is not a suggestion, and it is not just something you do before selling. The Santa Clara County Fire Department sends crews to inspect hillside properties starting in early April each year. Properties that are not in compliance by the end of June get cleared by a contractor, and the bill goes on your property tax.
If you are not sure which zone you are in, you can check your address at sccfd.org. You will also get a letter in spring telling you exactly what is required, either 30 feet or 100 feet, depending on your specific parcel.
What defensible space actually means
Zone 1 covers 0 to 30 feet from your structure. This is where the most aggressive clearing happens. Grass should be cut to no more than four inches tall. Branches on trees should be removed to a height of at least six feet from the ground. Dead vegetation, leaf litter, pine needles, and bark should be cleared, though up to 3 inches of depth is allowed. The five feet immediately around your home is the ember-resistant zone. No wood mulch, no combustible planters, no firewood stacked against the house.
Zone 2 covers 30 to 100 feet out. Here you are creating horizontal and vertical spacing between plants rather than removing everything. Shrubs and trees should be spaced so fire cannot easily ladder from ground cover to canopy. Access roads need 10 feet of brush clearance on each side.
Free chipping program
The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council at sccfiresafe.org runs a free chipping program for residents. Once you have cleared your defensible space, you can sign up to have the brush chipped on-site so you do not have to haul it yourself. Dates are scheduled by area. Check their site or contact them to get on the list. This program specifically includes 95033, even for parcels that technically fall in Santa Cruz County.
Home hardening
Defensible space buys time. Home hardening is what actually keeps embers from igniting your house. The most common entry points are attic and crawl space vents (replace with 1/16-inch metal mesh), open eaves, gaps under doors, and combustible decking material. A free Home Ignition Zone assessment is available through the FireSafe Council. A trained volunteer walks your property with you and produces a written report. Email firesafe@sccfiresafe.org or visit sccfiresafe.org to schedule one.
Evacuation alerts
Sign up for AlertSCC at alertscc.net. This is the county’s official notification system covering evacuation warnings and orders, air quality, and other emergencies. It is free and takes about two minutes. Also sign up for Genesis Protect, which is linked from the same page and adds an additional layer of geofenced alerts. Cell towers in parts of 95033 run on backup power during outages, so a battery-powered AM/FM radio is worth having as a backup.
Key Contacts and Resources
- Santa Clara County FireSafe Council — sccfiresafe.org — firesafe@sccfiresafe.org
- SCCFD Fire Prevention (brush abatement questions) — sccfd.org/fire-prevention
- Check your fire hazard zone — sccfd.org (address lookup tool)
- AlertSCC signup — alertscc.net
- CAL FIRE defensible space guide — fire.ca.gov/dspace