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Wildfire Mitigation Contractors in Lake County, CA
Lake County in 30 secondsContractors, local rules, where to get help
18 wildfire mitigation contractors are listed for Lake County, 15 with a clear CSLB license.
- Fire hazard zones
- Look up your address
The State Fire Marshal's Local Responsibility Area maps, sent to Lake County, Clearlake and Lakeport in 2025, rate 15,538 acres Very High, 7,516 High and 7,564 Moderate; state-protected land in the county has another 360,147 Very High acres under the 2024 map. Local governments could keep or raise these ratings but not lower them. You can look up your parcel on CAL FIRE's Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer.
- Defensible space rules
- Source
Lake County Code Sections 13-57 to 13-67 (Ordinance 3082, 2019, amended 2020) treat hazardous vegetation and combustible material on unincorporated land as a public nuisance. Owners of lots with buildings must keep 30 feet of defensible space around structures, or follow state law where it applies. They must also clear 10 feet along frontage roads, remove tree parts within 10 feet of a chimney or stovepipe and maintain shrubs and trees year round. Roofs must stay free of leaves, needles and dead wood. The County Fire Official can require up to 100 feet depending on slope and fuel. Vacant lots must be cleared within 30 feet of neighboring structures and road frontage. An owner who gets a notice has 30 business days to comply and can appeal to the Board of Supervisors within 15 calendar days. If the owner still doesn't comply, the county can do the work and bill the cost as a lien or a tax assessment. The county asks owners to finish clearing dry grass, weeds and other combustible vegetation before June 1 each year. During fire season, administrative citations can reach $100, $200 or $500 per day, rising with repeat violations. A violation can also be charged as an infraction or misdemeanor.
- Chipping
- Source
The Clear Lake Environmental Research Center (CLERC) offers free chipping, funded by a USDA Community Wildfire Defense Grant, to Lake County residents not covered by another program. You cut and stack the brush, and the Hogback Ridge Fuels Crew chips it once at least 6 properties in an area sign up. Branches can be up to 6 inches thick and 2 to 6 feet long. Stack them at the roadside with cut ends toward the road, no more than 5 ft high, 6 ft deep and 15 ft long. Separate programs run through the South Lake Fire Safe Council, the Hidden Valley Lake Association and the Konocti Fire Safe Council.
- Fire Safe Council
- Lake County Fire Safe Council
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Lake County's Hazardous Vegetation/Combustible Material Abatement Ordinance (County Code Sections 13-57 to 13-67, adopted 2019) covers all unincorporated land. It requires at least 30 feet of defensible space around structures, and the County Fire Official can require up to 100 feet. Enforcement comes from the County Fire Official, assisted by Code Enforcement. The county asks owners of all lots, including vacant ones, to clear dry grass and weeds before June 1. The State Fire Marshal's 2025 maps put 15,538 acres of Lake County's locally protected land in the Very High hazard zone. Contractors below are ranked by public Google rating.
More in Lake County 8
Serving all of California 8
Also on record 3
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Ace Tree Solutions
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California Brush Works
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Chasin Goat Grazing
Defensible space rules in Lake County
Fire hazard zones in Lake County
In 2025 the State Fire Marshal sent Lake County, Clearlake and Lakeport their first updated Local Responsibility Area maps since 2011. According to the State Fire Marshal’s acreage table, they rate 15,538 acres of locally protected land Very High, 7,516 High and 7,564 Moderate. State-protected land in the county adds 360,147 Very High acres under the 2024 map. Local governments had to adopt the maps and could not lower any rating. You can check any address on CAL FIRE’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer.
Local rules and deadlines
The county’s Hazardous Vegetation/Combustible Material Abatement Ordinance (Code Sections 13-57 to 13-67, adopted in 2019) applies to all unincorporated land. It adds to the state’s defensible space law.
- Lots with buildings: keep 30 feet of defensible space around structures and 10 feet of clearance along frontage roads. Remove tree parts within 10 feet of a chimney or stovepipe and keep roofs free of needles and leaves.
- Larger zones: the County Fire Official can require up to 100 feet where slope or fuel calls for it.
- Vacant lots: clear flammable and dead vegetation within 30 feet of neighboring structures and road frontage. Within 10 feet of them, keep grass under 6 inches and prune trees 6 feet up.
Each spring the county reminds owners of all lots, including vacant ones, to clear dry grass, weeds and other combustible vegetation before June 1. Missing that deadline can bring an inspection notice, fines or abatement billed to you, and your local fire protection district can do a courtesy inspection beforehand. A formal notice gives you 30 business days to fix the problem, and you can appeal to the Board of Supervisors within 15 days. If you don’t act, the county can clear the lot and put the cost on your tax bill as a lien. If a hazard lasts into fire season (while a burn ban is in effect), daily citations of up to $100, $200 or $500 can apply, rising with repeat violations within a year.
Free chipping and fire-safe programs
The Clear Lake Environmental Research Center runs a free community chipping program funded by a USDA grant. You cut and stack brush at the roadside, and a crew chips it once at least six properties in an area sign up. The county points residents to CLERC’s sign-up at chippingday.org. The Lake County Fire Safe Council lends tools such as string trimmers and a log splitter for free through its Mobile Tool Cache, and also lists the South Lake Fire Safe Council’s low-cost membership program and the Hidden Valley Lake Association’s free chipping.
County resources
Read the ordinance text and the county’s yearly clearance reminder, and use the Fire Safe Council’s hazard-abatement page to report a hazard. For free chipping, book through CLERC. The contractors listed below serve Lake County and can help clear a property before an inspection or a notice to abate.
Frequently asked questions 6
Who enforces defensible space in unincorporated Lake County?
The County Fire Official enforces the county ordinance, with help from Lake County Code Enforcement. The ordinance defines this official as the Chief Building Official, a designee, or another county officer certified in fire prevention. Before formal action, the official tries to get owners to comply voluntarily and may ask local Fire Safe Councils to help. In State Responsibility Areas, the state's defensible space law (PRC 4291) controls.
How much do I have to clear?
On a lot with buildings, the ordinance requires at least 30 feet of defensible space around structures. You also need 10 feet of clearance along frontage roads and no tree parts within 10 feet of a chimney. Keep roofs clear of leaves and needles. The County Fire Official can require up to 100 feet based on slope, fuel load and fuel type. On vacant lots, clear flammable and dead vegetation within 30 feet of neighboring structures and road frontage. Within 10 feet of those, cut grass below 6 inches and prune trees 6 feet up.
Is there a yearly deadline?
Yes. The county says all residential, commercial and vacant lots in unincorporated Lake County, Clearlake and Lakeport must be cleared of dry grass, weeds and other combustible vegetation before June 1. Missing it can bring an inspection notice, fines or abatement by the jurisdiction billed to you. If you're unsure whether your property complies, ask your local fire protection district for guidance or a courtesy inspection before the deadline.
What happens if I ignore a notice to abate?
The notice gives you 30 business days to fix the problem, and you have 15 calendar days from its postmark to appeal to the Board of Supervisors. If you don't act, the county can do the work and bill you, with payment due within 15 days. An unpaid bill becomes a special assessment collected with property taxes, and the county can record an abatement lien. If the hazard lasts into fire season, citations can add up to $100 per day for a first violation. That rises to $200 for a second violation within a year and $500 for more after that.
Did my hazard zone change in 2025?
Possibly. The 2025 Local Responsibility Area maps were the first update since 2011 and rate 15,538 acres of locally protected land in Lake County, Clearlake and Lakeport as Very High. Check your address on CAL FIRE's Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer.
Is chipping free in Lake County?
Yes for most residents. CLERC's grant-funded community chipping is free for residents not already served by another program. You cut and stack, and a crew chips the brush once enough neighbors sign up. The Hidden Valley Lake Association offers free chipping to its members. In South Lake County, a $30 yearly Fire Safe Council membership gets you low-cost chipping at $60 per hour.