Defensible Space (COPY 1)
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Guidelines
"Any person that owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains any building or structure in, upon, or adjoining ant mountainous are of forest covered lands, brush covered lands, or grass covered lands, or any land which is covered with flammable material, shall at all times do the following:"
- Create a Lean, Clean and Green zone; 30 foot circumference around structures. (PRC 4291)
- 5 feet of clearance (the "Buffer" ) from all combustible ground fuels around the perimeter of any structure. (NS 26-09)
- Beyond the "Buffer" and up to 100 feet of the property line (whichever is less) , maintain an average pine needle/forest duff depth of 1 inch, and in no case exceed a maximum depth of 2 inches. (NS 26-09)
- Remove all dead trees, limbs and vegetation from properties. Reduce fuel zone (30' - 100'). (NS 26-09)
- Property address must be visible from the street. Numbers shall be a minimum of 5 inches in height and on a contrasting background. (PRC 4291)
- Remove ant tree limbs that are within 10 feet vertically or horizontally from a structure. (NS 26-09)
- Remove portion of any tree that extends within 10 feet of the outlet of a chimney or stovepipe. (PRC 4291)
- Maintain any tree adjacent to or overhanging any building free of dead or dying wood (PRC 4291)
- Maintain the roof of a structure free of any leaves, needles and other dead vegetation. (PRC 4291)
- Remove all of the lower tree limbs to a minimum of 8 feet high (for shorter trees remove limbs on the bottom third of the tree). This distance shall be measured from the lowest hanging portion of the drip line to the ground. (NS 26-09)
- Provide and maintain at all times a screen over the outlet of every chimney or stovepipe that is attached to a fireplace, stove, or other device that burns any solid or liquid fuel. The screen shall be constructed of nonflammable material with openings of not more that 1/2 inch in size. (PRC 4291)
- Remove the undergrowth from mature tree fields. (RPC 4291)
- Remove all flammable vegetation within 10 feet of a structure. (PRC 4291) Beyond the 10 foot zone, maintain shrubs on the entire property according to the minimum horizontal spacing for edges of shrubs, based on the slope of the property, as follows: (Reg, 14, CCR 1299; NS 26-09)
- 0% - 20% slope: 2x the height of the shrub
- 21% - 40% slope: 20 feet of canopy spacing
- Slopes greater than 40%: 30 feet of canopy spacing
- All trees the district or state classifies as intermediate or co-dominant must have the following spacing distances from the edge of one canopy to the next: (Reg, 14, CCR 1299; NS 26-09)
- 0% - 20% slope: 10 feet of canopy spacing
- 21% - 40% slope: 20 feet of canopy spacing
- Slopes greater than 40%: 30 feet of canopy spacing
- All firewood and lumber must be stacked at least 10 feet from any structure
Please schedule an inspection of your property prior to the start of any defensible space work. The inspector will go over all items to be completed and will mark trees and vegetation required to be removed.
Upon completion of your defensible space work, please schedule a final inspection with the Fire Prevention Office: 530-562-1212 x1
The Northstar Fire District Compliance (LE100) certificate cannot be issued until your property meets all defensible space criteria.
Acceptable Clearances
Conifer forests intermixed with rural housing present a hazardous fire situation. Dense vegetation, long fire seasons, and ample ignition sources related to human access and lightning, make this home vulnerable to wildfires. This home is located on gentle slopes (less than 20%), and is surrounded by large mature tree overstory and intermixed small to medium size brush (three to four feet in height).
Contact
Thank you again for your support and have a fire safe season!
If you have any questions about this program, please feel free to contact:
Jason Gibeaut
Community Risk Reduction Chief
Joe Barron
Forestry Supervisor
For more information, visit our Contact Us page.
