Laws, Policies and Agencies; Defensible Space & Home Hardening

California:

State Code: PRC 4291: Establishes defensible space requirements for buildings and structures in "mountainous, forest, brush and grass covered landscapes."

Read more about PRC 4291 here: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=4291.&lawCode=PRC

California Code section 51182: An occupied dwelling in a very high-fire zone must at all times maintain defensible space up to 100' from the structure within property line boundaries.

Read more about CC 51182 here: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=51182.

Executive Order N-18-25: Issued February 6, 2025. An occupied dwelling in a very high-fire zone must at all times maintain a non-combustible Zone 0, extending 5' from the structure or any structural attachments including decking and fencing.

Read more about Order N-18-25 here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-2-6.Urban-Conflagration-EO-ATTESTED.pdf

Assembly Bill 38 (AB 38): Requires sellers of residential properties in high fire hazard zones to provide documentation of defensible space compliance.

Read more about AB 38 here: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB38

Placer County:

Placer County Code, Chapter 9, Article 9.42, STR Ordinance: Requires short-term rentals (STR's) in the Eastern Placer County area to pass a fire-life safety inspection, including defensible space, in order to maintain their permit status. Required annually for privately managed STR's, and every three years for professionally managed STR's.

Town of Truckee:

Municipal Code Chapter 5.02: Requires all short-term rental units to pass a defensible space inspection every three years.