Defensible Space

Defensible space work that stands up to inspection.

Fire agencies and insurers are holding North Bay property owners to higher standards every year. I clear the fuel — so you can keep your home insurable.

Defensible space isn't landscaping. It's the buffer of managed vegetation around your home and outbuildings that slows a wildfire down and gives firefighters room to work. In Sonoma and Marin counties, it's also increasingly something your insurance company requires you to maintain — and something fire districts inspect.

Here's the honest part: the fire agency makes the final call on compliance, not me. My job is doing the work that gets you there. I'll walk your property, explain what I'd cut and why in plain terms, and give you a written estimate before anything starts.

What the zones mean (the standard Cal Fire guidance)

0–5 feet — the ember-resistant zone. Nothing flammable against the house: clear dead material, trim back plants touching structures.

5–30 feet — lean, clean, and green. Cut grass short, remove dead plants and ladder fuels, space out shrubs and trees.

30–100 feet — reduced fuel. Thin dense brush, remove dead and dying vegetation, break up continuous fuel beds.

Exact requirements vary by fire district — some local rules go further. If your insurer or fire district gave you a specific checklist or violation notice, send it to me with your estimate request and I'll work to it.

What I clear

Ladder fuels (low limbs and brush that let fire climb into trees)

Dead and dying brush, saplings, and shrubs

Tall dry grass and weeds around structures

Overgrown slopes and hillsides near homes

Vegetation crowding driveways and access roads (firefighter access matters)

What I don't do

I don't grind stumps, fell large trees, or regrade land. If your job needs that, I'll tell you who to call.

Frequently asked questions

Will this satisfy my insurance company?

I can't guarantee what your insurer decides — every company has its own checklist. What I can do is work to Cal Fire's defensible-space guidance and to any specific requirements your insurer or fire district put in writing. Bring me their letter and I'll quote the work against it.

What about the county chipper program?

Sonoma County's free chipper program has been badly backlogged — homeowners are expected to cut and pile the material themselves and then wait. If you'd rather not wait, I can pile material to program spec or haul it off entirely. Ask for the option you want in your estimate.

My property is steep / rough / hard to reach. Can you work it?

That's most of my work. Hand tools and professional cutting equipment go where mowers and crews with big machines can't. If I genuinely can't do it safely, I'll tell you that too.

Do you remove trees?

Small dead trees and saplings, yes, as part of fuel reduction. Large tree removal is a different trade with different equipment and permits — I'll refer you to a licensed tree service.

How often does defensible space need redoing?

Vegetation grows back. Most properties need attention at least once a year, often in late spring before fire season. I offer recurring seasonal visits — ask about a maintenance plan.

Ready when you are.

Free on-site estimates across Sonoma and Marin counties.

Get a Free Estimate —  call/text (707) 582-2323