Defensible Space is the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it.

For residents that live in Fire Zone 2 & 3, the City of Berkeley requires that you maintain 100 feet of Defensible Space from any structure, including from structures on adjacent properties - because wildfire does not stop at property lines.

Your home may be the most valuable investment you have. Creating and maintaining Defensible Space will protect your investment from burning during a wildfire.

Watch an experiment which demonstrates how having defensible space and hardening your home can reduce the potential of home ignition during a wildfire.

The City of Berkeley has worked with the Berkeley Fire Safe Council to provide a listing of contractors that specialize in defensible space as a service to the public. The City of Berkeley makes no representation about the quality of work performed by these contractors and residents must perform their own research to ensure competency, appropriate licenses and insurance are in place and valid, and that there are acceptable references.

The first five feet from your home is the most important. Keeping the area closest to buildings, structures, and decks clear will prevent embers from igniting materials that can spread the fire to your home.

Why? The majority of homes lost to wildfire are ignited by flying embers. Embers can travel miles ahead of the active front of wildfires.  

What to do:

1. Use hardscape like gravel, pavers, or concrete. No combustible bark or mulch.

2. Remove all dead and dying plants, weeds, and debris (leaves, needles, etc.) from your roof, gutter, deck, porch, stairways, and under any areas of your home.

3. Remove all branches within 10 feet of any chimney or stovepipe outlet.

4. Limit combustible items (like outdoor furniture and planters) on top of decks.

5. Relocate firewood and lumber to Zone 2.

6. Replace combustible fencing, gates, and arbors attached to the home with noncombustible alternatives (for 5’ away from the home). See a video here showing how fire uses combustable fences to spread from home to home.

7. Relocate garbage and recycling containers outside this zone.

Consider relocating boats, RVs, vehicles, and other combustible items outside this zone.

Regularly clear dead or dry vegetation and create space between trees. During times of drought when watering is limited, pay special attention to clearing dead or dying material.  

Why? Removing dead plants and creating space between trees and shrubs creates a buffer for your property and reduces potential fuel for fire.  

What to do:

1. Remove all dead plants, grass, and weeds.

2. Remove dead or dry leaves, pine needles and eucalyptus slash.

3. Trim trees regularly to keep branches a minimum of 10 feet from other trees.

4. Create a separation between trees, shrubs, and items that could catch fire, such as patio furniture, wood piles, swing sets, etc.

If this zone extends into a neighbor’s yard, work together to coordinate actions and enhance the value of the collected efforts.

Continue reducing potential fuel within 100 feet or the property line. If this zone extends into a neighbor’s yard, work together to coordinate actions and enhance the value of the collected efforts.

Why? 100 feet of defensible space is required by law. Public Resources Code (PRC) 4291

What to do:

1. Cut or mow annual grass down to a maximum height of four inches.

2. Create horizontal space between shrubs and trees. (More Info Here)

3. Create vertical space between grass, shrubs and trees. (More Info Here)

4. Remove fallen leaves, needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches. However, they may be permitted to a depth of three inches.

5. Keep 10 feet of clearance around exposed wood piles, down to bare mineral soil, in all directions.

6. Clear areas around outbuildings and propane tanks. Keep 10 feet of clearance to bare mineral soil and no flammable vegetation for an additional 10 feet around their exterior.