Fire Prevention

For detailed information regarding defensible space, please view the flyer below.  If you have questions, please contact our Defensible Space Inspectors at (916) 933-6623 ext. 1044.

Related Documents

• Defensible Space Flyer
• El Dorado County Oak Tree policy
• Equipment Use Safety Flyer
• Vegetation Management/Defensible Space Complaint Form
• For a list of abatement contractors, please visit the Vacant Lot webpage and see the document titled Hazard Abatement Contractors.
• For information on Burn Permits and Burn Days, please click here.

Are YOU doing the right thing the wrong way?

While trying to eliminate the fire hazards around your home, are you in the process of starting a wildland fire?

When grass dries out in the heat of summer, wildfires start easily. Whether working to create a defensible space around your home, mowing the lawn, or pulling your dirt bike over to the side of the road, you need to use all equipment responsibly.

A simple spark caused by a lawn mower blade, a weedeater wire leader striking a rock, high temperatures from mufflers, or faulty spark arresters on yard equipment are enough to ignite dry grass. Restrict lawn mowing and equipment use to cooler morning hours when lower temperatures and higher humidity reduce the risk of starting a wildfire.  Do your part the right way to keep your community fire safe!

*Serrano residents must comply with the Serrano El Dorado Owners' Association "Tree Removal and Pruning" rule, and obtain approval from the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) prior to pruning or removing any Heritage Oak Tree. For more information, please see the Association website at www.serranohoa.org, or contact the office at 916.939.1728.

**Sterlingshire homeowners must also comply with the Sterlingshire CC&Rs (which are separate from EDHCSD) under the heading “Trees” Article VII, Section 7.1 and obtain approval from the Architectural Committee prior to the removal of any tree. For further information please call Sterlingshire management at 916.758.8700.

“I received a Notice to Abate.  What do I do now?”
If you received a notice to abate, you are required to remove or cut to a maximum height of two inches any dry grass, weeds, stubble, brush, litter, or other flammable materials within 100’ of a combustible source which endangers public safety by creating a fire hazard. This includes the removal of tree limbs to a height of six feet above the ground level. All brush or woody vegetation debris shall be chipped or removed from the property. Any non-vegetative debris (i.e., construction materials) shall be removed from the property. Refer to “Unimproved Property Hazard Abatement Standard” for details.

“What if I received a Notice to Abate but no longer own the property?”
If you receive a notice and you do not own the property listed, please contact Vegetation Management/Defensible Space at 916-933-6623 x1044. Property owner information is provided to the El Dorado Hills Fire Department by the El Dorado County Assessor’s Office and notices are sent to the Owner on Record listed on the last county assessment roll.

“What are acceptable methods of abatement?”
Disking: The discs shall be set at an angle sufficient to cut the sod loose and adequately bury the growth of weeds, grass, or noxious vegetation existing at the time. Disking shall include rototilling or cultivating. Disking shall be done each time the growth exceeds six (6) inches in height.
Scraping: Area shall be scraped clear, and all debris shall be removed from the required clear area.
Mowing: Height of vegetation shall not exceed two inches at completion. Mowing shall be done each time growth exceeds six (6) inches in height. Mowing shall include hand-operated weedeaters, flail, and rotary mowers.

“Can’t I just spray the weeds?”
Spraying of herbicides and a pre-emergent shall not be considered an acceptable method of weed abatement. If sprays or a pre-emergent are utilized prior to growth of vegetation and successfully prevents growth of vegetation, then this will be an acceptable method of abatement. Any time growth of vegetation exceeds six (6) inches height, it shall be removed by another acceptable method of abatement.

“I want to abate the weeds on my property. Can I do it myself or can I hire someone for this type of work?”
As long as the abatement is completed by the deadline, any property owner can clear their own property. We maintain a listing of weed abatement contractors in the area who perform various types of abatement work. Although we cannot recommend any particular contractor, this list is made available to the public as a resource. You can also look in the yellow pages under Weed Control, Weed Abatement, and/or Landscaping Services.

“I cut my weeds before the deadline and my property is clean, so why did I still receive a Notice?”
Property owners must maintain their property throughout the year. If a property is cut prior to the deadline, and the growth returns prior to an inspection, then the property can be found in violation. Property owners should inspect their properties on a regular basis to check for regrowth, or any new problems such as dead trees, or items dumped on the property without permission. Also verify there is 100’ clearance to any combustible source ie: wood fences, sheds, out buildings, decks and homes.

“I cleared my property earlier in the year, but it rained and grew back. Do I have to clean the property again?”
Yes. Weed abatement is not always a one-time event. A second abatement may be necessary; it is the property owner’s responsibility to maintain abatement throughout the year.

“I never received a Notice to Abate weeds on my property. Can I still be penalized?”
Yes. Please keep in mind that it is your responsibility as the property owner to maintain your property at all times. Notices issued during the annual Weed Abatement Program serve as courtesy notices.

“When will my property be inspected?”
First notices are mailed to property owners in early April each year. Inspections begin on the first deadline listed in the first Notice to Abate. There’s no pre-set schedule for the inspection of any particular parcel.

“How will I know when my property has been cleared?”
All properties requiring abatement will be listed in our online active database and will be updated every 24 hours. You will need your parcel number to verify your property is cleared.

On April 25, 2023, the Governing Board for the El Dorado Hills County Water District adopted Resolution 2023-02 declaring weeds and similar materials located on unimproved properties within the community to be both a fire hazard and a public nuisance. Property owners of undeveloped parcels located in either El Dorado Hills or Latrobe are required to properly maintain their property in accordance with EDHFD Standard W-001 by no later than May 1, 2023. Failure to comply with these requirements by that date may lead to the property being abated by the Fire Department as both a fire hazard and a public nuisance in the community. For additional information about this program, visit Vacant Lot Resources.

Please note: The EDH Fire fee schedule will be changing effective January 1, 2021.  

Please see the EDHFD Fee Schedule below for a detailed breakdown of fees. To submit plans, please visit the Plan Submittal webpage.

• Fee Schedule Effective 1/1/2023
• Fee Schedule Effective Through 12/31/2021

For Rescue Fire Protection District Development fees, please click here.

For further explanation regarding the Development Fees, please refer to the El Dorado Hills Fire Department Protection Standard: Development Fee Standard # A001.

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