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Wildfire Mitigation Contractors in Orange County, CA
Orange County in 30 secondsContractors, local rules, where to get help
49 wildfire mitigation contractors are listed for Orange County, 44 with a clear CSLB license.
- Fire hazard zones
- Look up your address
CAL FIRE released an updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone map for unincorporated Orange County on March 24, 2025, rating land Very High, High or Moderate, and the Board of Supervisors adopted it through Ordinance No. 25-015 on August 26, 2025. Look up a parcel with CAL FIRE's FHSZ Viewer or OCFA's Find Your FHSZ tool.
- Defensible space rules
- Source
OCFA's Vegetation Management Guidelines (revised 2026) set the defensible space standard in fire-risk areas it serves: manage vegetation at least 100 feet from a structure or to the property line; remove dead and dying plants, roof and gutter litter, and branches within 10 feet of a chimney; keep grasses and weeds cut to 4 inches; keep shrubs within 5 feet of the house 2 feet tall or lower; group taller shrubs in threes with wide spacing; and move wood piles at least 30 feet from the home. Separately, the County's Weed Abatement Program sends an annual notice to unincorporated owners under the state Health and Safety Code; parcels not cleared can be cleared by county-contracted crews, with inspection, clearing and administrative charges added to the property tax bill.
- Chipping
- Source
The Fire Safe Council East Orange County Canyons holds free Chipper Days for canyon residents, usually in June and September, at the OCFA chipper across from the Silverado Community Center: bring cut brush and Orange County Conservation Corps crews chip it.
- Fire Safe Council
- Fire Safe Council East Orange County Canyons
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In unincorporated Orange County and its member cities, the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) applies its Vegetation Management Guidelines, which call for managed defensible space at least 100 feet out from a home, while the County's Weed Abatement Program can clear neglected unincorporated parcels and bill the owner. The County adopted CAL FIRE's updated unincorporated Fire Hazard Severity Zone map by Ordinance No. 25-015 on August 26, 2025. Contractors below are ranked by public Google rating.
More in Orange County 39
Serving all of California 8
Also on record 4
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Ember Pro
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EmberSafe Home
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Laguna Tree Service
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National Wildfire Protection Service
Defensible space rules in Orange County
Fire hazard zones in Orange County
The county’s history of destructive fires, from the 1993 Laguna Firestorm to the 2007 Santiago Fire and 2018 Holy Fire, is why hazard mapping matters here. On March 24, 2025, CAL FIRE released an updated map for unincorporated Orange County that rates land Very High, High or Moderate. The Board of Supervisors adopted it as Ordinance No. 25-015 on August 26, 2025. New buildings in Very High zones must use the wildfire-resistant construction rules in Chapter 7A of the California Building Code. Check your parcel on OCFA’s FHSZ page or in CAL FIRE’s viewer. Cities inside the county adopt their own local maps.
Local rules and deadlines
The Orange County Fire Authority sets defensible space expectations through its Vegetation Management Guidelines, revised in 2026. They call for a managed zone of at least 100 feet around a home, with:
- all dead plant material removed
- grasses cut to 4 inches
- shrubs within 5 feet of the house kept at 2 feet or lower
- taller shrubs grouped and spaced apart
- tree limbs kept 10 feet from chimneys
- wood piles at least 30 feet from the house
Homes built after about 1979 usually have a formal Fuel Modification Plan instead. For unincorporated land, the County’s Weed Abatement Program sends an annual notice to clear weeds and flammable debris. If the owner doesn’t clear the parcel, county crews can do it and add the charges to the property tax bill. Home sellers in OCFA-served fire zones can request a free disclosure inspection. A passing result is valid for 6 months.
Free chipping and fire-safe programs
The Fire Safe Council East Orange County Canyons covers the canyons and foothills from the 241 toll road to Holy Jim Canyon and is a recognized Firewise community. It runs free Chipper Days, usually each June and September, at the OCFA chipper across from the Silverado Community Center. Orange County Conservation Corps crews chip residents’ green waste on site.
County resources
Useful starting points:
- OCFA’s Ready, Set, Go! vegetation management pages
- the County’s FHSZ map and ordinance page
- the Weed Abatement Program for unincorporated parcels
The contractors listed below serve Orange County and can help bring a property into line with OCFA’s guidelines before fire season or a home sale.
Frequently asked questions 5
Who enforces defensible space rules in Orange County?
The Orange County Fire Authority serves unincorporated Orange County and most cities, and uses its Vegetation Management Guidelines in its Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Anaheim, Brea, Fullerton, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Orange run their own fire departments, so owners there should contact their city. For overgrown unincorporated parcels, the County's Weed Abatement Program (OC Public Works) handles clearing.
How wide does my defensible space have to be?
OCFA's guidelines call for a minimum of 100 feet from the structure, or to the property line if that is closer. The distance can be greater depending on slope and vegetation, and within that area dead plants must be removed, grasses kept at 4 inches, and shrubs within 5 feet of the house kept at 2 feet or lower.
What happens if I don't clear weeds on an unincorporated parcel?
The County's Weed Abatement Program mails an annual notice. If hazardous weeds and vegetation aren't cleared and maintained, county-contracted crews can clear the property, and the inspection, clearing and administrative charges are added to the owner's property tax bill.
Am I in a fire hazard zone after the 2025 map update?
CAL FIRE's updated map for unincorporated Orange County (released March 24, 2025) classifies land as Very High, High or Moderate, and the County adopted it on August 26, 2025. Enter your address in CAL FIRE's FHSZ Viewer or OCFA's Find Your FHSZ tool; cities adopt their own local maps.
Do I need a defensible space inspection to sell my home, and does it cost anything?
In fire zones where OCFA handles defensible space disclosure inspections, the owner or listing agent can request one, and OCFA does not charge for it. A compliant result is valid for 6 months. If the property fails, the inspector leaves a handwritten list of the work needed.