Wildfire Home Hardening Directory
House wall with a gravel strip at the foundation, sparse low shrubs, lawn and pines limbed up
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Defensible Space Contractors in San Mateo County, CA

13 listed 12 license Clear
Defensible Space in San Mateo County in 30 secondsWhat it covers, how we rank

13 defensible space contractors are listed for San Mateo County, ranked below by public Google rating and review count (paid placements are labeled and shown first). Under California PRC 4291, homes in fire hazard severity zones must maintain 100 feet of defensible space — most of these contractors also handle the full clearance scope.

Defensible space is the buffer of managed vegetation around a building that slows an approaching wildfire and gives firefighters room to work. California Public Resources Code 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in fire hazard areas, organized into Zone 1 (0–30 ft) and Zone 2 (30–100 ft); a new ember-resistant Zone 0 (0–5 ft) standard is still in state rulemaking.

What it covers
Removing dead plants, grass and weeds within 100 feet of structuresThinning and spacing shrubs and tree crowns to break up continuous fuelClearing branches away from the roof and chimneyZone-by-zone fuel reduction: bare or non-combustible Zone 0, lean Zone 1, reduced Zone 2Chipping or hauling away the cleared material
Listed here
13 defensible space contractors, 12 with a clear CSLB license

Do you need a licensed contractor for this?

It depends

Hand clearing of brush, grass and ladder-fuel shrubs needs no license.

Ask for a license (C‑49, C‑27) when the job includes removing trees, pruning trees 15 ft or taller, stump grinding, or grading with a dozer/tractor (A, C‑12, C‑27).

Details and sources

This is a hint for when to ask, not legal advice.

B&P Code §7026.1 · CSLB license classifications

Defensible Space in San Mateo County

  1. Bartlett Tree Experts

    5.0(137)Google Maps San Rafael Licensed (415) 472-4300

  2. EC Tree Service Inc

    5.0(111)Google Maps Redwood City Licensed (650) 368-2044

  3. Lisac General Engineering

    5.0(13)Google Maps Campbell Licensed (510) 760-9781

  4. Cavara Tree Services

    5.0(12)Google Maps Redwood City Licensed (650) 720-0015

  5. Peninsula Tree Care

    5.0(6)Google Maps Belmont Licensed (800) 987-3322

  6. MGA Tree Services

    5.0(3)Google Maps San Jose Licensed (408) 627-0320

  7. Tree Solutions, Inc.

    5.0(2)Google Maps Santa Cruz Licensed (831) 425-1833

  8. Evergreen Tree Service

    5.0(1)Google Maps Pacifica Licensed (650) 355-1644

  9. Brothers Services Tree Care Inc

    4.8(53)Google Maps Redwood City Licensed (650) 996-0360

  10. Irish Excavation

    3.0(2)Google Maps Morgan Hill Licensed (408) 659-6136

More defensible space contractors in San Mateo County 3

Other services in San Mateo County

All contractors in San Mateo County · What defensible space includes