Our specialty
Fire Abatement & Defensible Space
California's Public Resources Code 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in fire-hazard zones — and most of Mendocino and Lake Counties qualify. We clear vegetation, limb trees, and reduce fuel loads to meet or exceed CAL FIRE standards, and we document the before/after so you have records on file for your insurance company.
What's included
- Zone 0 (0–5 ft from structures): ember-resistant clearance, removal of combustible vegetation and debris against the home
- Zone 1 (5–30 ft): reduced fuel — pruned trees, spaced shrubs, cleared dead material
- Zone 2 (30–100 ft+): thinned vegetation, ladder fuels removed, grass mowed to ≤4 in.
- Tree limbing per CAL FIRE guidance — typically 6 ft of clearance from the ground for branches and 10 ft of clearance from chimneys and stovepipes
- Before/after photos and a written work summary you can share with your insurer
Who this is for
Property owners in CAL FIRE State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) — which covers most of Mendocino and Lake Counties — who need to meet PRC 4291 ahead of fire-season inspections, or who've been asked by their insurance carrier for documented defensible space. Common situations: insurance renewal documentation, property sale prep, post-purchase compliance, or simply wanting to know your property is materially safer when fire season hits.
How it works
- 1
Free on-site estimate
We walk the property with you, identify Zones 0/1/2, and scope the work. No obligation, no charge.
- 2
Scheduled crew day(s)
Most residential parcels are 1–2 crew days depending on vegetation density and access.
- 3
Before/after documentation
We photograph zones before and after and email you a written summary suitable for insurance records.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need a permit to clear vegetation for defensible space in Mendocino County?
- For routine residential defensible space work — clearing grass, brush, ladder fuels, and limbing trees per CAL FIRE guidance — no permit is usually required. Tree removal of larger trunks, oak removal, or work near waterways/wetlands may have separate rules at the county or state level. We'll flag anything we see during the on-site walk-through that might need a separate review before we start.
- When's the best time of year to schedule fire abatement?
- Late winter through early spring is ideal — vegetation is easier to cut, the ground holds equipment well, and the work is finished before fire season. We'll work year-round, but if you're booking ahead, March through May is the sweet spot. Fire-season urgency requests are prioritized.
- How long does a typical defensible-space job take?
- Most single-family residential properties are one or two crew days, depending on parcel size, vegetation density, slope, and access. Larger rural parcels or properties that haven't been touched in years can stretch to three or more days. We give you the day estimate up front during the free walk-through.
- Do you handle the debris, or do we?
- We do. Cut vegetation is windrowed for haul-off, chipped on site, or stacked for an owner burn permit — your choice. Hauling off-property is the most common option and is included in the written estimate.
Get your free fire-abatement estimate
Walk your property with us — we'll scope the defensible-space work and give you a clear written estimate. No obligation.
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