California
Wildfire defensible space help in California
22 programs in California pay residents for wildfire defensible space. 8 list themselves as open now, and the median maximum is $2,000 per household.
Fire districts, counties and state forestry agencies help pay for clearing defensible space around homes, hardening vents and roofs, and hauling or chipping cut brush. Many start with a free site assessment.
22 programs
- Open
Napa Firewise Defensible Space Cost Share
Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (Napa Firewise)
50% reimbursement up to $3,500; income-qualified households up to 100% up to $3,500
Up to $3,500 per household
- Open
MOFD Home Hardening Grant (Ember-Resistant Vents, Gutter Guards)
Moraga-Orinda Fire District (MOFD)
Free 1/16 in wildfire mesh; free HomeSafe stainless gutter guards shipped to the home; ember-resistant vent purchase reimbursed up to $1,000 per parcel (vents and sales tax only)
Up to $1,000 per household
- Open
Fire Safe Council San Diego Defensible Space Assistance
Fire Safe Council of San Diego County
free contractor work (value not published)
- Open
Fire Safe Council San Diego Free Curbside Chipping
Fire Safe Council of San Diego County
free chipping
- Open
MOFD Community Chipping Program
Moraga-Orinda Fire District (MOFD)
Free chipping (and free haul-away of chips if you cannot keep them)
- Open
MWPA Chipper Day Free Curbside Chipping
Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) with Fire Safe Marin
Free curbside chipping and disposal
- Open
Permit Sonoma Residential Curbside Chipper Program
Permit Sonoma Fire Prevention Division (County of Sonoma)
Free chipping (a launch news report says up to 2 free hours plus pre-approval for a second visit; the official page does not list hours)
- Open
Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council Community Chipping
Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council
Free chipping service
- Seasonal
Cal OES California Wildfire Mitigation Program
California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), California Wildfire Mitigation Program, with local program partners
Financial assistance for home hardening retrofits and defensible space; amount per home and homeowner cost share not stated on the homeowner page (secondary Cal OES reports reference full cost up to about $40,000 for homeowners at or below 120% of area median income, with 0/10/25% cost-share tiers; not verified)
- Seasonal
City of Hayward No-Cost Residential Fall Chipping Program
City of Hayward Fire Department
Free chipping service (funded by CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention Grant)
- Seasonal
Mountain Rim Fire Safe Council Free Curbside Chipping
Mountain Rim Fire Safe Council
free chipping
- Seasonal
Napa County Fire Department Free Chipping Program
Napa County Fire Department
Free chipping, up to 3 hours per visit
- Seasonal
San Bernardino County Fire Free Chipping Programs (2026)
San Bernardino County Fire, CAL FIRE and local Fire Safe Councils
Free chipping; Yucaipa and Oak Glen capped at 15 properties per monthly cycle
- Seasonal
San Diego County Community Chipping Events
County of San Diego with Fire Safe Councils, CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire, RCD
free disposal and chipping
- Seasonal
Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council Neighborhood Chipping
Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council
Free chipping and haul-away; roadside branches tagged for clearance removed at no charge
- Seasonal
Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council No-Cost Chipping
Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council
free chipping
- Status not posted
MWPA Resident Grants for Home Hardening and Defensible Space
Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA)
Up to $2,500 per parcel, no match (FY 24/25 page); lifetime max $15,000 per resident
Up to $2,500 per household
- Status not posted
Con Fire Low-Income Exterior Hazard Control Program
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire), funded by Measure X
Up to $1,500 of hazard control or weed abatement work
Up to $1,500 per household
- Status not posted
Santa Clara County FSC Saratoga Hazardous Tree Removal Reimbursement
Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council
Reimburses 50% of project cost, up to $1,000 per parcel
Up to $1,000 per household
- Status not posted
City of Hayward Residential Assistance Program for Brush Cutting
City of Hayward Fire Department
Grant toward cutting, trimming and stacking costs; dollar amount not published
- Paused
DFSC Defensible Space Fuel Reduction Cost Share
Diablo Fire Safe Council (DFSC)
Up to $3,500 per project
Up to $3,500 per household
- Paused
BAAQMD Wildfire Prevention Chipping Program
Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD)
Free chipping service (Davey Tree Expert Company)
Other California programs
- Lawn replacement 72
- Irrigation upgrades 56
- Rain barrels and cisterns 22
- Rain gardens and stormwater projects 6
- Stormwater fee credits 1
- Trees 20
- Native plants and pollinator habitat 4
- Electric lawn equipment 5
- Compost and mulch 14
- Graywater 9
Sow is not affiliated with any of these agencies or utilities. Amounts and rules change, often at the start of a fiscal year, so confirm the details on the official page before you start a project. How we research these programs
Plan the project before you apply
Sow lays out your new planting on a photo of your yard and builds the plant list from plants suited to where you live.