Defensible Space & Fuel Reduction Services
Five core service lines covering every CAL FIRE PRC 4291 and California Zone 0 requirement across Placer, El Dorado, and Sacramento counties.
Defensible Space Clearing (100 ft)
Comprehensive 100-foot vegetation management removing brush, ladder fuels, and dry grass to protect structures from advancing wildfires.
$1,200 – $4,500 · Primary
Zone 0 Ember-Resistant Clearing
Strict 0-to-5-foot non-combustible perimeter clearance eliminating combustible mulch, wood fences, and overhangs directly adjacent to homes.
$800 – $2,500 · Primary
AB 38 Real Estate Pre-Inspections
Rapid audit and corrective vegetation management required for home sales in High/Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
$1,500 – $5,000 · Specialty
Brush Clearing & Mastication
Heavy machinery land clearing and forestry mastication to shred dense manzanita, oak brush, and blackberry brambles.
$2,500 – $9,500 · Secondary
Tree Limbing & Ladder Fuel Reduction
Pruning lower tree limbs 6 to 10 feet above ground level to prevent surface fires from climbing into the upper canopy.
$900 – $3,800 · Secondary
Service Pricing Overview
| Service | Typical Price Range | Typical Scope | Pricing Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defensible Space Clearing (100 ft) | $1,200 – $4,500 | Zone 1 (5-30 ft) and Zone 2 (30-100 ft) clearing, brush cutting, dead wood removal, dry grass mowing. | Local market averages ($1,200-$4,500 per half-acre to acre depending on slope and brush density) |
| Zone 0 Ember-Resistant Clearing | $800 – $2,500 | Removal of bark/wood-chip mulch, stripping ground fuels within 5 ft of siding, replacing combustible fencing connections, roof/gutter cleanout. | Job scope including gravel replacement and non-combustible buffer setup |
| AB 38 Real Estate Pre-Inspections | $1,500 – $5,000 | Pre-listing evaluation, rapid brush/ladder fuel clearing, documentation prep for local fire protection district inspection. | Urgent timeline pricing including clearing labor and fire district report coordination |
| Brush Clearing & Mastication | $2,500 – $9,500 | Tracked masticator operation, invasive species removal, slope brush grinding, firebreak creation. | Day-rate for machinery operation ($2,500-$3,500 per day) |
| Tree Limbing & Ladder Fuel Reduction | $900 – $3,800 | Limbing tree canopies up to 10 ft high, removing dead branches within 10 ft of chimneys, chipping wood debris. | Per-tree or parcel canopy density scope |