** The Sonoma Valley Fire District officially declared the end of wildfire season 2021 on October 27th, 2021. The start of the 2022 wildfire season within the Sonoma Valley Fire District will be determined once conditions warrant it; Fire Department staff will begin property inspections to ensure compliance with the Weed Abatement / Vegetation Management Rules and Regulations when the 2022 season has been declared. Check back in late spring for updates. 

Note: Many State and Local ordinances that relate to Vegetation Management and Defensible Space are enforceable year round. Property Owners are required to maintain safe and defendable properties year round in compliance with the laws. 

MAINTAIN DEFENSIBLE SPACE

Keep your property lean and green to help protect your family, home, and your community.

Defensible space is essential to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. It’s the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surround it.  This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it helps protect your home from catching fire—either from direct flame contact,  radiant or convective heat.  Defensible space is also important for the protection of the firefighters defending your home.

We understand that determining what is actually required can be challenging. We put this page together to help you navigate the confusion. The first thing a property owner must do is determine what geographical area they are located in.

The Sonoma Valley Fire District provides service to the City of Sonoma and portions of Unincorporated Sonoma County in both the Local and State Responsibility areas.

IS MY PROPERTY IN THE SRA OR LRA? - CLICK HERE

REGULATIONS

CLICK HERE - Improved Parcels in the LRA

CLICK HERE - Improved Parcels in the SRA

CLICK HERE - Unimproved parcels in the LRA/SRA

CLICK HERE - Requirements for Properties located in the City of Sonoma

WEED ABATEMENT

Our Weed Abatement program is designed to reduce or prevent the spread of wildfire from one property to another. Each year, the Sonoma Valley Fire District notifies relevant property owners of the requirement for weed and nuisance abatement. These property owners are asked to address any overgrowth of grasses and weeds. Weed Abatement efforts have been designed to minimize fire hazards throughout the area. Through this program, all property owners and citizens can be assured of a safer fire season.
Weed Abatement notices will be sent out in the spring. We do not make any recommendations concerning Weed Abatement service providers, but we do maintain a list of providers in our area. Please contact our office at (707) 996-2102 to request more information.