Defensible space is the buffer you create between a structure on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or other vegetation that surrounds it.

For residents that live in Fire Zone 2 & 3, areas that can stretch as far west as Colusa Avenue, the Alameda, Spruce Street and College Avenue, 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 that 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 list of contractors that specialize in defensible space as a service to the public. The City of Berkeley does not represent contractors or their quality of work. Residents must perform their own research to ensure competency, appropriate licenses, valid insurance, and acceptable references.

The first five feet around your home are the most important. The majority of homes lost to wildfire are ignited by flying embers. Embers can travel mies ahead of the active front of wildfires Keeping the area closest to buildings, structures, and decks clear will prevent embers from igniting materials that can spread the fire to your home.  

What to do:

1. Use hardscapes like gravel, pavers, or concrete. Avoid 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 (5-30 feet).

6. Replace combustible fencing, gates, and arbors attached to the home with noncombustible alternatives). See a video here showing how combustible fences spread fire to home.

7. Relocate garbage and recycling containers outside Zone 0 (0-5 feet).

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

Regularly clearing away dead or dry vegetation and adding space between trees will help create a buffer for your property and reduce potential fuels.

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 your collected efforts.

Continue reducing potential fuel within 100 feet of your home or up to your property line. Tjhis 100 feet of defensible space is required by law. Public Resources code (PRC) 4291.

If Zone 2 extends into a neighbor’s yard, work together to coordinate actions and enhance the value of the collected efforts.

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 if their depth exceeds three inches.

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

6. Clear areas around outbuildings and propane tanks. Keep 10 feet of bare mineral soil clearance in all directions, and no flammable vegetation for an additional 10 feet around th exterior of this clearance.