Oakland: Fire Vegetation Management Plan (in plain English)

With so much of Oakland tucked into the hills and forests - gorgeous, yes, but also places where wildfires don’t need much to get going - the City rolled out a wildfire-prevention program to keep things safer. If your property is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, you’re required to keep vegetation trimmed and debris cleared. The Oakland Fire Department conducts unscheduled annual inspections to confirm properties are being maintained.

Starting December 1st, with our Oakland launch, Property Atlas can help in two big ways: we make it easy to see whether your building sits inside one of these hazard zones, and we alert you when an inspection is scheduled, even when it’s technically “unscheduled.”

The program covers more than 25,000 parcels, and a quick address search on Property Atlas can tell you instantly whether yours is one of them.

As for finding scheduled inspections… yes, you can use the City’s website and follow a long list of steps (there’s a five-minute video showing you how), checking it regularly to make sure nothing has changed. Or you can let Property Atlas handle it. We send real-time alerts the moment an inspection is added or rescheduled, so no daily checking is required.

If your property doesn’t pass the first inspection, the City will return within 45 days, and again within 14 days. Better to pass the first time. Here’s how.

Cut Back Grass/Small Shrubs/Leaves/Branches:

• Cut all grass down to 4–6 inches above the ground

• Clear vegetation around the address sign so it remains visible

• Maintain 30 feet of defensible space around all buildings

• On steeply sloped lots, extend defensible space up to 100 feet

• Keep vegetation 10 feet away from both sides of driveways and fire roads

• Maintain 10 feet of clearance from any wood fences

• Clear 3 feet of space around fire hydrants and fire protection equipment

A woman cutting back grass

Prune Trees:

• Prune around the address sign

• Maintain at least 10 feet of clearance from chimneys and stove outlets

• Trim branches to 13'-6" above roads and driveways

• Keep tree limbs at least 10 feet from any structure, including roofs

• Remove all branches and limbs below 6 feet

• Remove all dead branches and accumulated leaf debris

• Maintain 10 feet of clearance from wood fences

• Maintain 3 feet of clearance around fire hydrants and fire protection equipment

Other:

• Address numbers must be at least 4 inches tall (illuminated signs are even better)

• Chimneys and stove outlets need metal screens with max ½-inch openings

• Clear roofs, courtyards, alleys, parking areas, and open spaces of flammable debris

• Store firewood 20+ feet from buildings, never under decks, eaves, or overhangs

With our December 1st Oakland launch, staying ahead of these inspections gets a whole lot easier. Property Atlas gives you automated alerts, hazard-zone identification, and compliance tracking, all in one place, so you’re ready long before an inspector shows up. Pass the first time, every time.

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