I Just Got a CAL FIRE Notice—What Now? A CAL FIRE Prevention Officer just paid you a visit. Maybe they left a notice on your door, or maybe you had a quick conversation in the driveway. Finding out your property didn’t pass its defensible space inspection can feel like a lot to take in. Take a breath. You’re not alone—and you’re not in trouble. CAL FIRE isn’t out to fine you or penalize you. Their mission is to help reduce wildfire risk across California’s communities, and part of that includes annual inspections to make sure properties meet minimum fire safety standards. Think of this notice as an opportunity to get your property dialed in before the peak of fire season—not as a warning letter. At Grind Fire Defense , we work alongside CAL FIRE and homeowners like you to make the path to compliance as smooth, safe, and straightforward as possible. Why Did I Get a Notice? CAL FIRE issues LE-100 notices when a property is out of compliance with California’s Public Resources Code 4291 . This state law lays out the basics of defensible space, requiring all structures in wildfire-prone zones to maintain clear, safe zones that reduce the risk of ignition and slow the spread of fire. This includes: Clearing dead or dry grass, leaves, and debris Creating spacing between trees and shrubs Trimming tree limbs away from roofs and chimneys Keeping the first 5 feet around structures free of flammable materials If your property didn’t meet one or more of these standards, you may have been given a notice requesting corrective action by a certain date.
