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Wildfire Mitigation Contractors in Contra Costa County, CA
Contra Costa County in 30 secondsContractors, local rules, where to get help
52 wildfire mitigation contractors are listed for Contra Costa County, 35 with a clear CSLB license.
- Fire hazard zones
- Look up your address
Con Fire adopted CAL FIRE's updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps effective July 10, 2025, which for the first time show Moderate and High zones alongside Very High; in unincorporated local-responsibility areas the 2025 maps show 1,317 Very High acres versus 2,842 on the 2011 map. Look up a parcel on Con Fire's Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer or the unincorporated LRA map linked from its Local Responsibility Area Maps page.
- Defensible space rules
- Source
Fuel Mitigation and Exterior Hazard Abatement Ordinance 2023-07 applies across the Con Fire and Crockett-Carquinez fire districts. Owners must keep 100 feet of defensible space (Zones 0, 1 and 2) around structures and attached decks under state rules, clear hazardous vegetation 10 feet from the paved edge of fire access roads with 13 feet 6 inches of overhead clearance, and may not have bark, mulch or wood-chip fences within 100 feet of a structure. Fuel breaks are required on every parcel by June 1 each year: on lots of five acres or less, grass and weeds cut to 3 inches or less, non-irrigated brush and combustible debris removed, dead or dying trees within 100 feet of an occupied home removed, and tree limbs raised at least 6 feet; larger parcels need 30-foot fuel breaks. Sellers must give buyers Con Fire documentation of compliance before escrow closes. If a 15-day Notice to Abate is ignored, the district can do the work and the cost, including administrative costs, becomes a lien collected with property taxes.
- Chipping
- Source
Con Fire's Measure X wildfire program funds Community Chipping Days for Firewise USA communities or neighborhoods with at least 10 participating homes; groups apply through the district's Wildfire Mitigation Project Application. The same program's Low-Income Exterior Hazard Control Program pays for up to $1,500 of weed abatement or hazard removal for eligible owners.
- Fire Safe Council
- Diablo Firesafe Council
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In Contra Costa County, Ordinance 2023-07 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures and annual fuel breaks on every parcel, enforced by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire), which can clear an ignored hazard itself and bill the cost as a lien on the property tax bill. The 2025 CAL FIRE maps adopted by Con Fire (effective July 10, 2025) place about 5,900 acres of unincorporated local-responsibility land in the Moderate zone, 3,200 in High and 1,300 in Very High. Contractors below are ranked by public Google rating.
Services in Contra Costa County
More in Contra Costa County 42
Serving all of California 8
Also on record 4
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Am/Pm Tree Service, Inc.
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Green Lane Tree Services
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Skyline Tree Experts
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Waraner Tree Experts
Defensible space rules in Contra Costa County
Fire hazard zones in Contra Costa County
Con Fire and the Crockett-Carquinez Fire Protection District adopted CAL FIRE’s updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps, effective July 10, 2025. The earlier local maps showed only Very High zones; the new ones add Moderate and High, and by state law local agencies cannot downgrade CAL FIRE’s rating. In CAL FIRE’s 2025 acreage table, unincorporated local-responsibility land totals roughly 5,900 Moderate, 3,200 High and 1,300 Very High acres. Among the cities, Orinda, Richmond and Moraga have the most Very High acreage. The same page links a parcel-level viewer and a PDF map for each city.
Local rules and deadlines
Ordinance 2023-07 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures, a 10-foot clear strip along fire access roads, and annual fuel breaks on every parcel by June 1. On lots of five acres or less that means grass cut to 3 inches or less, brush and debris removed, and limbs raised 6 feet. Con Fire’s Minimum Weed Abatement Standards add 30-foot fuel breaks for larger parcels. The 2026 deadlines were May 15 in East County and June 1 in Central and West County. Parcels must stay compliant all season. An ignored 15-day Notice to Abate lets the district do the work and put the cost on your tax bill as a lien. Sellers also need Con Fire’s proof of compliance before escrow closes.
Free chipping and fire-safe programs
Con Fire’s Measure X wildfire program funds Community Chipping Days for Firewise communities or neighborhoods with at least 10 participating homes. It also funds up to $1,500 of hazard-control work for eligible low-income owners, plus neighborhood fuel breaks and dead-tree removal. The Diablo Firesafe Council serves Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Its cost-share grant of up to $3,500 per project for fuel-reduction work was closed to new applications at last check.
County resources
Start with Con Fire’s Wildfire Prevention Unit for defensible space guidance, AB 38 sale inspections and weed abatement. Its weed abatement FAQ explains notices and regrowth. The service-area page shows whether Con Fire covers your address. The contractors listed below serve Contra Costa County and can help with clearing, fuel breaks and home hardening.
Frequently asked questions 5
Who enforces defensible space and weed abatement in Contra Costa County?
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) enforces Ordinance 2023-07 through its Wildfire Prevention Unit, which runs the annual weed abatement program, defensible space inspections and property-sale (AB 38) inspections. Con Fire covers most of central, east and west county; if your property is outside its service area, contact your local fire district or city code enforcement.
What is the 2026 weed abatement deadline?
For 2026 Con Fire set May 15 for East County communities (including Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Pittsburg, Bay Point, Byron, Discovery Bay and Knightsen) and June 1 for Central County (including Concord, Clayton, Lafayette, Martinez, Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek) and West County (including El Sobrante, Hercules, Rodeo and San Pablo). Parcels must stay compliant through fire season, which usually ends around late October, so regrowth has to be cut again.
What happens if I ignore an abatement notice?
Under Ordinance 2023-07 the district sends a Notice to Abate Fire Hazard giving you 15 days to clear the hazard, with the right to a hearing. If you don't act, Con Fire can have the work done by its own crews or a contractor, and the cost plus administrative costs becomes a special assessment and lien collected with your county property taxes.
How much do I have to clear?
Defensible space extends 100 feet from any structure, split into Zone 0 (0 to 5 feet), Zone 1 (5 to 30 feet) and Zone 2 (30 to 100 feet), or to the property line if it is closer. On parcels of five acres or less, grass and weeds must be kept at 3 inches or less, tree limbs within 6 feet of the ground removed, and dead or dying trees within 100 feet of an occupied home taken out.
Is chipping free in Contra Costa County?
Con Fire's Measure X program funds Community Chipping Days, but only for Firewise USA communities or neighborhoods with at least 10 participating homes, so organize with neighbors and apply to the district. Eligible low-income owners can also get up to $1,500 of weed abatement or hazard removal work through the Low-Income Exterior Hazard Control Program.





