Defensible Space Cost Share Program
This program provides up to 50% reimbursement cost (maximum reimbursement is $2000.00) of eligible defensible space improvements around residences, including pruning of trees, removal of ladder fuel vegetation, maintaining grass, and relocation of other flammables.
How to Participate
A qualifying Mitigation Review performed in 2025 or 2026 is required to participate in this program.
Schedule a Mitigation Review by one of our Trained Volunteer Here!
1) First you must schedule a Free Wildfire Mitigation Review (WMR) from Yuba Watershed Protection & Fire Safe Council to become eligible for the cost share program.
2) Based on information from your review, perform defensible space activities, working outwards from the front door to the forest, prioritizing Zones 0 and 1 first.
If you mitigate Zone 2 before Zones 0 & 1 are mitigated, your application may not receive approval. Remember to take before and after photos of the work – photos and receipts are required for reimbursement eligibility.
3) Submit Your Application: Include copies of Receipts and Invoices.
Name of contractor, company or person who performed the work with phone number and address.
Resident name and address.
Description of work performed.
Source of payment with rate/hourly rate.
Apply Here
For assistance with your application please contact: Programs@yubafiresafe.org
Yuba County Foothill Fire Districts Eligible for this Program:
1) Camptonville Community Service District
2) Foothill Fire Protection District
3) Dobbins Oregon House Fire Protection District
4) Loma Rica Browns Valley Community Service District
5) Smartsville Fire Protection District
Eligible Program Activities
Prioritize Activities from the Front Door to the Forest
Zone 0 (Immediate): Non-combustible area 0-5’ from structure
- Remove all fuels & shrubs susceptible to ignition within 5’ of structure
- Install nonflammable landscaping/hardscaping material
Zone 1 (Intermediate): Lean, clean, and green within 5-30’
- Remove branches overhanging buildings and within 10’ of chimney or stovepipe outlets
- Create discontinuous fuels using wide spacing and landscaping features
- Relocate wood piles and other flammable residential items away from homes
- Chipping of removed fuels
- Remove seedlings and saplings (not large/mature trees) in order to create/maintain appropriate spacing of tree crowns
- Prune/ limb-up trees
- Remove ladder fuels such as shrubs
- Remove dead biomass material
- Expose bare mineral soil 10’ around outbuildings, wood piles, and liquid propane tanks
Zone 2 (Extended): Reduced fuels 30-100’ once you’ve addressed areas closer to your residence
- Chipping of removed fuels
- Remove seedlings and saplings (not large/mature trees) in order to create/maintain appropriate spacing of tree crowns
- Prune/limb-up trees
- Remove ladder fuels such as shrubs
- Remove dead biomass material
- Expose bare mineral soil 10’ around outbuildings, wood piles, and liquid propane tanks
- Mow grasses and annual plants to 4” tall
- Reduce ground litter and debris to less than 3” depth
This program is focused on helping residents address priority activities that provide the most risk reduction. It will not cover the cost of large tree removal.
What is wildfire defensible space?
Defensible space is the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surrounds it. – Cal Fire
Creating defensible space involves the careful selection, location and maintenance of vegetation and other combustible materials around a residence. According to the University of California Cooperative Extension (link), the purpose of defensible space is to:
- Minimize the pathways for wildfire to burn directly to the home
- Reduce radiant heat exposures to the home and structures
- Reduce the potential for embers to ignite vegetation adjacent to the home
- Provide a safe place for fire personnel to defend the home and allow for safe routes for evacuation.
For Information about the Home Ignition Zone, refer to NFPA Preparing Homes for Wildfire Here