The ARCD DSPACE program will assist residents to create and maintain defensible space. This program does not guarantee compliance with California Public Resources Code 4291 which defines standards for property owners in the State Responsibility Area (SRA). The ARCD DSPACE program will perform a defensible space assessment on the applicant’s home that will determine which types of vegetation treatment apply among the list below. Services will be performed up to a maximum dollar value of assistance per household, after which the applicant may hire additional services or seek additional assistance beyond this program. Services will be prioritized closest to the home and progress out toward the 100-foot limit as time and budget allow. 

Services Included:  

• Cut or prune shrubs and trees up to 10” Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) within 100 feet of the house, removing all dead and dying plants. 

• Clear vegetative debris (branches, leaves, pine needles and cones) from the roof, gutters, underneath decks, balconies and stairs 

• Chip all material cut 

• Clear vegetative debris in Zone 0: up to 5 feet from the house (including balconies). 

• Ensure that vegetative debris does not exceed a depth of 3 inches in Zones 1 and 2: between 5 and 100 feet from the house. 

• Relocate exposed wood piles to Zone 2: 30 feet from the house 

• Process downed logs into 16” rounds and relocate 30 feet from the house 

Services not included: 

• Mow grass or other herbaceous vegetation requiring regular maintenance. 

• Rake/blow leaves beyond 5 feet from house 

• Home Hardening, or any activity involving structural alterations to the house, decks, fences, or other structures. 

• Haul material off the property. Exceptions may be made for situations where there is not enough room on the property to accommodate chipped material.

Hazard Tree Services:

Dead, dying or diseased trees larger than 10” DBH which are within striking distance of a house may qualify for removal. Services will be performed up to a maximum dollar value of assistance per household to treat from one to several trees, depending on the labor required to fell and process each tree. Hazard tree assistance will be provided independently of Defensible Space assistance, that is, the maximum dollar value of assistance for each type of service is separate and may be applied on the same property. 

ARCD has limited funds to apply to this year’s Pilot Program. If future funding becomes available, ARCD would plan to open applications again. This year’s applicants would need to submit another application to be considered. ARCD encourages anyone interested in future programs to stay informed by signing up for the ARCD mailing list (click the “Join our mailing list” icon on the bottom right of the screen). 

If you would still like to receive a Defensible Space Assessment for your own information, contact your local Fire Department to request one. Make sure to contact the appropriate Fire Department according to where you live: 

Amador Fire Protection District 
City of Ione Fire Department 
City of Jackson Fire Department 
Jackson Valley Fire Protection District 
Sutter Creek Fire Protection District 

You can also learn more about Defensible Space, Home Hardening and Fire-Smart Landscaping online and conduct a self-assessment. 

ARCD is looking forward to re-opening the Chipping Program in summer 2026, which will help process residents’ green waste from their properties which they cut themselves. To stay informed about how to participate in that program, sign up for the ARCD mailing list. The ARCD Chipping Program is available to all residents of Amador County regardless of age, income, disability or veteran status. 

Application review 

Can I begin my application and save it to finish later?  

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What if I'm a renter?

The applicant may be the homeowner or a renter. If the applicant is not the homeowner, the applicant must communicate with the property owner, who must agree to the terms of the program and sign consent forms before assessments are scheduled. 

How will my application be evaluated? 

ARCD staff will review applications to ensure completeness and eligibility for the program. All applicants will receive a response from ARCD on or before April 3rd, 2026. Applications will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. The first 150 complete Defensible Space Assistance applications from eligible applicants will be selected to receive a Defensible Space Assessment. The first 25 complete Hazard Tree Assistance applications will be selected to receive a Hazard Tree Assessment. 

If funds remain after assistance is provided to the first 150 Defensible Space applicants, ARCD will consider the next 50 applications in the order that they were received during the original application window. Similarly, if funds remain after assistance is provided to the first 25 Hazard Tree applicants, ARCD will consider the next 15 applications. ARCD will assign the additional Assessments in September 2026 or before, and additional assistance will be offered dependent upon the remaining funding. 

What if I need help with the application? 

ARCD staff will hold in-person office hours for help with applications. No need to make appointments for the office hours: 

General Services Administration Building (ARCD office) 
12200 B Airport Road, Jackson, CA 95642. 
Monday, February 23rd, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. 
Tuesday, February 24th, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. 
Thursday, March 5th, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. 

Upcountry location TBD 
Monday, February 23rd, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. 
Friday, February 27th, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. 

If you need help to fill in the application by phone or in person outside of the office hours listed above, Please email applications@amadorrcd.org to request an appointment. Request for help with the application must be submitted by Wednesday, March 11th to ensure that help can be provided before the application deadline. 

Assessment 

How is a Defensible Space Assessment conducted? 

ARCD will assign your local Fire Department to schedule a Defensible Space Assessment with you. Once scheduled, you and each of your neighbors participating in your application through the Good Neighbor Policy will receive an email notification. You (the applicant) or someone you designate must be present for the Assessment. Your Fire Department Assessor will evaluate the space within 100 feet of your house according to Defensible Space standards established by CALFIRE. They will note what items need attention and will assign items to the Contractor through annotated photographs. You will receive a paper copy of the Assessment, which is a checklist of items, and after your Assessor enters the information into the ARCD system, you will receive a digital copy including notes and photographs by email.  

How is a Hazard Tree Assessment conducted? 

ARCD will assign our contracted Registered Professional Forester (RPF) to schedule a Hazard Tree Assessment with you. Once scheduled, you will receive an email notification. You (the applicant) or someone you designate must be present for the Assessment. The RPF will assess each tree that is within striking distance of the house and rank them by priority to remove. You will receive a paper copy of the Assessment, and after your Assessor enters the information into the ARCD system, you will receive a digital copy including notes and photographs by email. 

How will the Assessment(s) determine eligibility for Assistance? 

Your Assessor may ask to see documents reflecting eligibility through one of the categories listed above: disabled, low income, disables or veteran. Applicants may be disqualified for assistance if they cannot provide such proof of eligibility. 

ARCD anticipates that nearly all, if not all of the first 150 applicants who are selected to receive an Assessment and who meet the eligibility requirements will receive Assistance. The exceptions would be if no work is recommended. If the Fire Department Assessor determines that the property meets Defensible Space standards for all the items that this program offers assistance for, then no assistance will be assigned. If the RPF determines that no trees around the house pose a risk to the structure, then no assistance will be assigned.  

Do I have to be present for the Assessment(s)? 

You or someone who you designate must be present for the assessment. 

What if the vegetation on my neighbor’s property poses a danger to my house? 

A homeowner is legally only responsible for maintaining defensible space up to 100 feet from structures on their own property. However, the 100-foot zone of influence still has an impact on a house’s wildfire preparedness even when it extends onto a neighbor’s property. 
Good Neighbor Policy: 
You may request assistance to treat the area on your neighbor’s property at the same time as your own. This extended assistance will be made possible with documented support from your neighbor who will receive notifications about each step of the assistance process along with the applicant. You must communicate with the neighbor about the assistance, and the neighbor must sign written consent forms before assessments are scheduled. 

Treatment 

Who is going to perform the work? 

Alta Vista Landscaping and Tree Service is an experienced local contractor specializing in Defensible Space landscaping and tree care. Alta Vista is one of several contractors partnered with the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council to implement their Defensible Space Assistance Program since 2022 and have since helped hundreds of residents to prepare their homes for wildfire. Alta Vista has an excellent reputation with its customers and with their organizational partners; ARCD considers itself very lucky to be working with them! 

How can I ensure that my property will be protected while the work is being performed? 

ARCD works with experienced contractors who take the utmost care of the properties they work on. If any damage were to occur to your property, the contractor would be responsible to fix it. Fencing that is moved/dropped during operations will be put back up. Minor alterations that are inherent to the type of work performed will not be considered “damage” to be fixed or compensated for, including but not limited to tracks left on lawn or soil, skin-ups to the bark of trees, or some broken branches. 

After your home is assessed and approved for assistance, you must call 811 to have your underground utility lines marked.  

Funding

How is this program funded? 

The ARCD Defensible Space Assistance Pilot Program is funded through a CALFIRE Wildfire Prevention Grant.  

Will the Defensible Space Assistance Program be offered beyond 2026? 

ARCD intends to continue the Defensible Space Assistance Program in future years by seeking additional grant funding opportunities. 

Find more information by attending outreach events throughout the year organized by Amador Fire Protection District, Amador Fire Safe Council, and UCCE Master Gardeners, or by exploring online resources maintained by CALFIRE and others.