Is a defensible-space inspection free?

Cal Fire and many local fire agencies inspect free of charge. Some carriers commission a private inspection at their own expense, and some require the homeowner to pay for one ($150 to $400 typical).

How often do I need to clear defensible space?

Continuously. The 100-foot rule applies year-round in State Responsibility Areas, and clearing usually has to be redone before each fire season (typically by May or June each year).

What happens if my home fails the inspection?

Cal Fire issues a notice to comply. Failure to comply can result in a fine and, more importantly, a carrier's refusal to bind or renew. Some California carriers will non-renew immediately on a failed defensible-space report.

Does the FAIR Plan require defensible space?

Yes. The California FAIR Plan applies the same 100-foot defensible-space underwriting requirement. A failed inspection can be cause for non-renewal.

Defensible-space inspection: what California insurers check

The 100-foot rule, in plain terms

California Public Resources Code §4291 requires the owner of a home in a State Responsibility Area (most of fire-country California) to maintain 100 feet of defensible space around any structure. The 100 feet is split into two zones, each with its own clearance standard:

Zone 1, the first 30 feet. Lean, clean, and green. No dead plants, no dry grass, no leaves on the roof or in gutters, no flammable items stored against the structure, no overhanging tree branches within 10 feet of the chimney, no trees with crowns within 10 feet of each other.
Zone 2, the next 70 feet (or to the property line). Cut grass to under 4 inches, space tree crowns and shrubs by minimum distances that scale with slope, remove dead and dying material, no horizontal-fuel ladders connecting brush to tree canopy.

A new Zone 0, the first 5 feet, "ember-resistant", was authorised by AB 3074 in 2020 and is being phased into Cal Fire's enforcement; carriers in the most fire-exposed counties have started underwriting against it.

Who inspects, and how to book

Three paths, depending on where the home is and which carrier holds the policy:

Cal Fire inspects in unincorporated SRA on a rolling basis and on demand. readyforwildfire.org covers the rules; the local Cal Fire unit office takes the booking. Free.
Local fire agencies (city or county fire departments inside Local Responsibility Areas) often run their own free defensible-space programs in fire-prone neighbourhoods. Search "defensible space inspection [your city]" or call the non-emergency line.
A carrier-commissioned inspector. Some carriers (especially in Tier 3 high-fire-severity zones) commission a private inspection before binding or renewing. Sometimes the carrier pays; sometimes the homeowner pays $150 to $400. The signed report goes straight to the underwriter.

What carriers do with the result

Almost every California admitted homeowners carrier, and the California FAIR Plan, uses defensible space as a binding and renewal condition in high-fire-severity zones. A passing inspection is the path to coverage; a failed inspection is a common reason for a non-renewal notice. After a major wildfire, the moratorium under CDI bulletins protects you from non-renewal for one year, but the year ends, and the inspection becomes the primary path back to a policy.

What to do

Read the Cal Fire defensible-space checklist and walk the property against it before fire season.
Book the free inspection through Cal Fire or your local fire agency. The inspector will give you a written list of what's deficient and a deadline.
Fix the deficiencies. Hire a vegetation-management contractor if the work is substantial; the cost is usually a fraction of the premium delta you'd otherwise face.
Send the carrier a copy of the passing report, proactively. A passing inspection on file is the single best evidence to slow or reverse a non-renewal.
Re-inspect each year before the carrier's next renewal cycle. The 100 feet doesn't stay clear by itself.

California carrier underwriting practices vary and the rules under AB 3074 and SB 504 are still being phased in. Confirm the specific requirement with your agent or the California Department of Insurance. Page last reviewed 2026-05-14.