Mandatory Wildfire Inspections

Placer County Passes New Law

On April 1st, 2020 the Placer County Board of Supervisors passed Ordinance 6015-B, requiring mandatory wildfire preparedness by all homeowners. Click here to read the new law. Placer county officials will be inspecting properties and undeveloped parcels within the county and issuing enforcement actions against homeowners who are not prepared for wildfire.


What does this mean for me?

From 30,000 feet, this means you have the opportunity to help in the fight for lower homeowner's insurance rates, by making your home, and your neighborhood, a safe and certified FireWise Site.

From the ground, it means your property must adhere to the guidelines listed below, or you risk being the lucky recipient of an enforcement action by Placer County.


Below is the minimum required by the new law

  • Maintain 100' defensible space around all buildings/structures
  • Annual grasses and weeds need to be maintained at 4" or less
  • Tree branches need to be limbed up at least 6' from the ground
  • Shrubs need to be maintained
  • Non-ornamental climbing vines must be removed from trees and structures
  • Maintain a 10' minimum clearance next to the road
  • Remove all portions of trees within 10' of chimney or stovepipe outlet
  • Maintain trees adjacent to or overhanging a structure free of dead/dying wood
  • Maintain the roof of any structure free of leaves, needles or other dead/dying wood
  • Install a spark arrestor on all chimneys attached to any appliance or fireplace that burns solid fuel
  • Remove any hazardouz vegetation constituting an extreme fire hazard, as determined by the enforcement official
  • Provide minimum 4" high street address numbers that are clearly visible from the roadside
  • Post address numbers on your house
  • If the house sits back from the street, post the address on the beginning of the dirveway and on the house
  • Address number shall be either a minimum of 4" high, reflectoried, and contrast with their background, or a minimum of 5" high and contrast with their background