Protecting Your Home From Wildfire

Over the past few years we have all seen the devastating impact of wildfires. To help protect your family, friends, homes, businesses and community the San Rafael City Council adopted new vegetation standards as part of our Wildfire Protection Action Plan. Fire knows no boundaries and therefore vegetation standards now apply to all structures and property Citywide.

Vegetation Standards are Required by Law in San Rafael

Property owners have a year-round responsibility to maintain their vegetation in an effort to reduce wildfire risk. We are here to help you navigate the responsibilities of property owners to comply with local requirements (San Rafael Municipal Code Chapter 4.12). The San Rafael Fire Department offers year-round assessments to help property owners understand where their property might be at risk. We encourage residents to take advantage of the various resources available to help you comply and avoid any enforcement action. If you rent or lease, please review the terms of your lease and work with your property owner to achieve compliance.

If you received a pre-citation or citation notice because of a wildfire hazard, please review our FAQs and resources available to assist you in complying with our safety standards. If you have already corrected the hazard, please email us your photos.

Defensible Space and Home Hardening

Defensible space is essential to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. It’s the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it protects your home from catching fire – either from direct flame contact or radiant heat. Defensible space is also important for the protection of the firefighters defending your home.

Home hardening incorporates building construction and vegetation management. Appropriate building materials and related design features must be considered. Home hardening and maintaining defensible space reduce the chance of ignition from flying embers, flames, or radiant heat.

How Do I Get Started?

Read our Frequently Asked Questions below to get started
Contact the Fire Department for additional questions or schedule a Fire Hazard Assessment through the form at the bottom of the page.
For additional information on home hardening, please visit FireSafe Marin’s information page on home hardening.

Where Can I Find More Detailed Information About Home Hardening and What I Can Do To Harden My Home?

Detailed information about how to harden you home can be found at: https://www.firesafemarin.org/home-hardening

What is Home Hardening?

Home hardening helps reduce fire risk by increasing your home’s resistance to heat, flames, and embers though the use of building materials and installation practices that help protect the vulnerable elements of your house. Several components of the home should be addressed, including the roof, gutters and eaves, vents, siding, windows and doors, and decks, fences, and other attachments. Taking action to harden your home can help reduce the risk of fire damaging your home and is a crucial step in adapting to wildfire.

A home’s survivability in a wildfire is largely based on the building materials, design features, and nearby landscaping. Homes lost to wildfire are most often ignited by embers or small, low-intensity fires. Ember ignition can occur when embers enter the building through vents or an open window. Once inside, embers can ignite furnishings or other combustible materials stored there. Ember ignition can also occur when embers accumulate and ignite combustible parts of the building, such as a wood shake roof, combustible decking, or debris accumulated on a roof or in a gutter. Vegetation or other nearby combustible materials can be ignited by embers, causing a spot fire and subjecting a portion of the siding, windows, or doors to fire.

What Are Some Things I Can Do to Harden My Home and Protect Against Ember Ignitions?

Clean roofs, gutters, and vents of dead leaves, pine needles, and debris.
Enclose or cover gaps over 1/8 inch with metal mesh. This includes vents, eaves, and soffits.
Screen or box in areas under patios and decks to prevent debris from accumulating. Remove anything stored underneath.
Move combustible material away from exterior walls.
Prevent ember penetration: Seal gaps around openings and reaffix missing shingles.
Install spark arrester on chimneys (even if the chimney is not used).
Consider replacing or treating combustible building materials, such as wood shingles, wood siding, and poorly maintained wood decks or steps.

How Do I Get Started with Home Hardening and Creating Defensible Space?

Fire prevention experts have identified zones (areas around your house) that should be improved to reduce fire risk.

Zone 0: Immediate Zone (0-5ft from structure)

Remove accumulated leaves, needles and dead vegetative growth from the roof, gutters, decks, porches, and stairways.
All vegetation in this zone shall be well-irrigated and free from dead or dying material. Trim to avoid contact with structure.
Maintain adequate space between tree canopies. Remove all dead and dying branches.
Remove all Combustible Vegetation. Remaining plants shall not be continuous. See Remove Combustible Vegetation section.
Avoid fire-hazardous plants, particularly under or near windows.
Mulch should not make contact with structure. Rock and pavers are encouraged.

Zone 1: Intermediate Zone | within 30′

Remove all Junipers, Bamboo, Acacia, and Italian Cypress.
Remove all vegetation within 10 feet of chimney or stovepipe.
Keep woodpiles and other highly combustible material at least 10 feet from structures.

Zone 2: Extended Zone | within 100′

Remove lower tree branches within 5 feet of the ground, not to exceed ¹/3 of the tree’s total height.
Cut and remove grasses and weeds to a maximum height of 3 inches.
Loose surface material, including leaves, twigs, and mulch, should be no more than 3 inches deep.
Remove all Combustible Vegetation (single-specimen exemptions may apply).
Considering slope, maintain adequate horizontal and vertical spacing to prevent a “fire bridge” or “ladder.” See Plant and Tree Spacing section.
Remove piles of dead vegetation

Access Zone | roadways & driveways

Assure safe access and egress by maintaining vegetation within 10 feet of roadways and driveways similarly to the Immediate Zone. Provide for 13½ foot clearance above roadway.