If you own a home in Nevada County, you have to keep 100 feet of space cleared around it. That part is state law, and most people know it.
What almost nobody knows is what the work actually costs.
Here is a straight answer, plus the things that move your price up or down.
What the Law Asks For#
California law calls for 100 feet of defensible space around your home. The county splits that into three zones.
The first 5 feet closest to the house should have almost nothing on it that burns. From 5 to 30 feet, plants get broken up into islands and grass stays under 8 inches. From 30 to 100 feet, you thin things out and pull dead material.
There is also a road rule people forget. If you own a private road or a long driveway, it needs to be cleared 10 feet wide past the shoulder and 15 feet up.
So What Does It Cost?#
Most defensible space jobs on a normal Nevada County lot land somewhere between a few hundred dollars and a few thousand.
That is a wide gap. Here is what decides which end you land on.
The Five Things That Set Your Price#
- How long it has been. A yard cleared last year is a touch up. A yard nobody has touched in five years is a project. This one matters more than all the others.
- How steep it is. Flat ground is fast. On a hillside every branch gets carried by hand, and slope can double the hours on the same amount of brush.
- How far it is from the driveway. Everything has to reach a truck. Thirty feet is quick. Three hundred feet uphill is time you are paying for.
- What is growing there. Blackberry and manzanita take far longer than grass. Low limbs and ladder fuels mean saw work.
- Where the debris goes. Chipping on site costs less than hauling, because hauling means dump fees and round trips.
That last one surprises people. The pile is often a real share of the bill, which is why we run a chipper and dump trailers on the same job. You can see how that works on our debris removal page.
What It Costs to Skip It#
This is the part most people never hear until it happens to them.
The county inspects properties. Fail one and you get a Notice to Abate and 30 days to fix it. Fail the second and you get a warning letter and 15 more days.
After that the fees start. It is 130 dollars on the third inspection, 700 on the fourth, and 1,300 on the fifth. Those stack on top of each other.
If it still is not done, the county can clear it for you and put the cost on your tax bill. That is almost always more than hiring it out.
It Can Also Save You Money#
Now the good news, which nobody seems to talk about.
California requires insurance companies to give you credit for wildfire work, and meeting the 100 foot defensible space rule is one of the things that counts.
The California FAIR Plan started its own hardening discounts on policies dated November 15, 2025 or later. Stack enough of them and it runs up to 16.4 percent off the wildfire part of a dwelling fire premium.
Ask your broker what your carrier gives you. Your property gets inspected, so the work has to be real.
And if you are thinking about selling, you need a passed inspection to close. That has been the rule since July 2021 for homes in high fire zones, and a lot of Grass Valley and Nevada City sits in one.
Some Neighbors Pay Nothing#
Not everyone has to cover this out of pocket.
Nevada County runs a free defensible space program for residents who are 65 or older or living with a disability, and who meet low income limits. It covers clearing within 100 feet at no cost, paid for by a FEMA grant.
Call the county at 530-470-2727 and ask. If you qualify, take it. We would rather you keep the money.
How to Pay Less#
Two things save more than anything else.
Do it every year. Yearly upkeep costs a fraction of a rescue job on a yard that got away from you.
And book early. Spring and early summer fill up fast around here. Calling mid fire season means fewer open slots.
Get a Real Number#
Nobody can price this honestly over the phone. It comes down to your slope, your brush, and how long it has been.
The fastest way is to have someone walk it with you. We have been clearing defensible space in these hills for 19 years, and we will tell you straight what it needs and what it will run.
See what the work covers on our fire defense and defensible space page, or ask for a free estimate. Send a photo of the yard and Jay will follow up with a price. You can also call (530) 210-3990.
