Understanding PRC 4291

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Creating Defensible Space Protects You, Your Neighbors, and Our Community

California’s Public Resources Code (PRC) 4291 is a state law that requires homeowners living in wildfire-prone areas to maintain defensible space around their homes and structures. In Mariposa County, where homes sit within or near wildland areas, this law isn’t just a rule, it’s a vital tool for community safety.

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What PRC 4291 Requires

PRC 4291 requires residents to create and maintain 100 feet of defensible space around all structures on their property. This means reducing flammable vegetation, maintaining access routes, and creating buffer zones that slow or stop the spread of wildfire.

The 100-foot zone is divided into two key areas:

• Zone 1 (0–30 feet): Remove all dead vegetation, keep roofs and gutters clean, trim trees, and separate flammable materials from structures.

• Zone 2 (30–100 feet): Thin vegetation to reduce fuel, prune tree branches up to 6 feet from the ground, and maintain space between shrubs and trees.

You can learn more about detailed state requirements at CAL FIRE: Defensible Space.

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Why PRC 4291 Matters for Everyone

Creating defensible space helps ensure firefighters can safely defend your home, but the benefits go far beyond your property line.

When you clear and maintain defensible space:

• You protect your home and family. Ember ignition is one of the leading causes of home loss during wildfire.

• You protect your neighbors. Fire spread is drastically reduced when multiple homes maintain proper defensible space.

• You protect our community. Collective action lowers fire intensity, improves firefighter safety, and helps prevent catastrophic loss across Mariposa County.

Wildfire doesn’t recognize property lines. One home that’s unprepared can put dozens of others at risk.

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How MFSC Can Help

The Mariposa Fire Safe Council offers free residential chipping and brush-clearing programs to help property owners meet PRC 4291 requirements. These programs make compliance more achievable for everyone, especially in rural areas where vegetation grows quickly each season.

Our crews and contractors work with you to remove and chip brush within your defensible space, turning potential wildfire fuel into safe, manageable material that can stay on your land.

Learn more on our Programs page or submit a request through our Chipping Services form.

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Together, We Make a Difference

Maintaining defensible space is about more than compliance. It’s about neighbors helping neighbors and protecting the place we all call home.
By following PRC 4291, we strengthen community resilience, support firefighter safety, and preserve the landscapes that make Mariposa County so special.