General Contact Number: (530) 621-5567

Vegetation Management

 El Dorado County Logo
County of El Dorado
Office of Wildfire Preparedness
and Resilience

Defensible Space Program


"Creating a fire-adapted and resilient El Dorado County through collaboration and coordination"


Defensible Space Ordinance Update

The County of El Dorado Board of Supervisors will hold a public meeting on December 12, 2023, to consider proposed amendments and the first reading of Ordinance 5186, which would repeal and replace Chapter 8.09, Vegetation Management and Defensible Space (Ordinance 5101) of Title 8, Public Health and Safety, of the El Dorado County Code of Ordinances. This hearing was previously set for November 14, 2023, but has been rescheduled to December 12, 2023. 

For public review, the County has provided access to the draft copy of the proposed Ordinance 5186 along with a Summary of Changes outlining the modifications to Chapter 8.09.   

Proposed Ordinance 5186 - Hazardous Vegetation and Defensible Space

Proposed Ordinance 5186 - Summary of Changes

Proposed Ordinance 5186 - Hazardous Vegetation and Defensible Space - Redline


For any comments or questions, please feel free to email wildfireready@edcgov.us


2023 El Dorado County Defensible Space Emphasis Areas

El Dorado County has identified 5 County Emphasis Areas where it will be conducting defensible space inspections in partnership with local fire districts over the next 12 months. The goal of these inspections is to provide homeowners valuable information on how they can meet their defensible space requirement and make their homes more resilient to wildfire.

Upper Apache (Meyers) – Summer 2023

Stewart Mine Area (Kelsey) – July-September 2023

Bassi Road Area (Lotus) – October-December 2023

Texas Hill Area (Placerville) – January-March 2024

Outingdale Area (Somerset) – April-May 2024


Residents in the Inspection areas will be receiving notification of inspection timeframes, and an invitation to a local informational workshop. The following are upcoming workshops: 


Texas Hill

Thursday, December 7th, 2023 – 6pm-8pm

Placerville Town Hall

549 Main St.

Placerville, CA 95667


Outingdale

Tuesday, March 5th, 2023 – 6pm-8pm

Pioneer Park Community Center

6740 Fairplay Rd.

Somerset, CA 95684



El Dorado County is partnering with CAL FIRE and local fire safe councils as part of this effort. There are a number of resources and programs available to help homeowners prepare their properties ahead of time, including voluntary home assessments conducted by local fire safe councils. 

The El Dorado County Fire Safe Council provides programs that fund chipping of material cleared by homeowners on the West Slope of El Dorado County, and create defensible space around homes of seniors, veterans, and low-income residents. Information is available at www.edcfiresafe.org .


2023 CAL FIRE Defensible Space Inspection Program

CAL FIRE is conducting defensible space inspections in the following target hazard areas (THA) of El Dorado County in 2023.

                                                                              Cameron Park                                                             Pollock Pines

                                                                              Camino                                                                       Salmon Falls

                                                                              Emerald Bay                                                               South Diamond Springs 

                                                                              Luneman                                                                     South Shingle Springs                                                            

                                                                              Penobscot                                                                   Volcanoville

For questions related to the CAL FIRE Defensible Space Program, call CAL FIRE at 530-708-2793.


Fire season is now a year-round reality in El Dorado County and its surrounding areas. Did you know...

  • 15 of the largest 20 fires in California history have happened since 2000.
  • Since 2007, El Dorado County has seen several major fires that have destroyed structures, including the Mosquito, Caldor, Angora, and King fires, not to mention numerous small wildfires in communities throughout the County.

With the surge in fire activity, we need to increase the prevention measures that could decrease fire danger in El Dorado County communities.

For questions or information, send an email to wildfireready@edcgov.us

You may also call our Defensible Space Ordinance recorded line, 530-621-4663, and leave a message. During times of busy call volumes, it may take 48-72 hours for your call to be returned.