Open spaces are valued for their nature and beauty; if we choose to live within these areas we must do our part to protect our homes and our community.

We may not be able to stop wildfires, but, by planning and proper fuel management, we can mitigate the risk that they pose. Completing fuel reduction activities increases the chances that homes will survive a wildfire, and will reduce danger to firefighters, neighbors, and surrounding natural resources.

Fire Fuel Reduction

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

The wildland/urban interface is any location where a fire can spread from vegetation (wildland fuels) to buildings (urban fuels), resulting in multiple house fires that overwhelm fire protection efforts. Creating a defensible space around our homes may help to reduce risk to our lives, properties, community, firefighters; and it is the law.

What is Defensible Space?

Defensible space is a perimeter created around a structure where vegetation is treated, cleared or reduced. This helps to slow the spread of wildfire towards a structure, provides a safe perimeter for firefighters to protect a structure, and reduces the chance of a structure fire burning to the surrounding area.

As a resident and/ or owner of property near or adjacent to wildland areas, you are required by California’s Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 4291, to maintain a defensible space around your house and other structures. Our Fuel Reduction Checklist will help you determine what you need to do to comply with the law and reduce your vulnerability to the threat of wildfire.

Rocklin Fire Fuel Reduction Guide and Checklist

The City of Rocklin has developed requirements for defensible space. These requirements will give you a better idea of the scope of your project, so you can prioritize your next steps. Don’t be overly concerned if the size of the project seems daunting. The goal is to take this one step at a time. Your priorities should focus on making the most impact with the least amount of effort. 

Small Lot Requirements

Lots 0.50 acres or less must:

• Mow grass/weeds to a height of less than 4 inches
• Remove all flammable vegetation (dead or dying vegetation) from the property. 
• Keep trees trimmed at least 10 feet from chimneys

Large Lot Requirements

Lots greater than 0.50 acres are required to:

• Mow grass/weeds to a height of less than 4 inches
• Remove all flammable vegetation (dead or dying vegetation) within a 100 feet of any structure, or to the property line, whichever is least.
• Keep trees trimmed at least 10 feet from chimneys
• If property lines extend beyond 100 feet from structures, a 20-foot perimeter at the property’s edge must be cleared of flammable vegetation and material

Vacant Parcels

What Is Weed Abatement?

In the City of Rocklin, all vacant parcels shall be abated (weeds cut down, trash removed, and/or firebreaks created to limit any potential fire hazard and allow access for fire fighting operations) on a year-round basis as per the City’s Vacant Parcel Standards.

In April of each year, the owners of vacant parcels are notified, by letter, of their responsibility to abate their property.  This letter includes the cost schedule and the Notice of Intent, requesting the vacant parcel owner to check which option they will use to abatement their property and then mail or fax to the Public Services Department.  In May, a second reminder letter is sent via certified mail to property owners that have not returned the Notice of Intent. 

What Happens If Weeds Are Not Taken Care Of?

By the end of May, all vacant parcels that do not comply with the Standards for Maintenance of Vacant Parcels are declared a nuisance by the City Council. These parcels will be abated by the weed control contractor hired by the City to perform the necessary weed abatement. When the contractor invoices the City for the abatement work, the City, in turn, invoices the property owner for the contractor’s fees plus a per-parcel administrative charge according to the cost schedule below.  If the property owner does not pay these fees, the City places a lien on the property until the fees are collected. 

Contact the City of Rocklin Public Services Division for more information on weed abatement of vacant lots.

Additional Resources

Rocklin residents and property owners are required to follow Rocklin Municipal Code 8.10 – 8-12 and related California Laws, which details the rules for property maintenance.

Citywide Fuel Load Reduction Guidelines

CalFire’s Wildfire Website is a *great resource for learning more about wildfire preparation and prevention.

*NOTE: Rocklin’s municipal property clearing rules differ somewhat from state guidelines.