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- - Learn About Wildfire Prepared Home
    
    Find out what you need to do for your home to qualify.
    
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Designation Levels
- - Designation certificate levels
    
    We offer two solutions. To receive a designation certificate, your home must meet all requirements listed for the desired level.
    
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Homeowner Resources
- - Steps To Achieve a Certificate
    
    Step 1: Complete DIY work using the How-To Prepare Your Home Checklist.
    Step 2: Pay a nonrefundable application fee and submit eligibility photos for review.
    Step 3: A 3rd party, in-person evaluator photographs completed DIY work.
    Step 4: Get the designation certificate.
Professional Resources
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    If you’re excited about the latest wildfire mitigation science, share these materials with friends and neighbors to help reduce their wildfire risk too.

 K Wildfire Prepared Home Base Assessment

Apply Now

Wildfire Prepared Home Free Online Home Assessment

"*" indicates required fields

Ready to take the Wildfire Prepared Home™ free online assessment?

Let’s go over a few things before you get started.

While this assessment is free, there will be a $125 fee required upon submission of your designation application. The purpose of this assessment is to ensure you have first reviewed the Homeowner Guide and taken the steps necessary for your home to meet all the requirements of this program before you pay the application fee for the inspection.

First, you will take the assessment for Wildfire Prepared Home and enter your email address to view your results. Next, we’ll ask a few additional questions to see if you qualify for the higher-level designation, Wildfire Prepared Home Plus.

Based on your answers, we will determine if you are ready to apply for a designation.

Ready?

Wildfire Prepared Home

This section reviews the requirements to qualify for a Wildfire Prepared Home™ BASE designation.

Eligibility

Do you own your home located in California?*

Yes

No

Is your home a single-family detached home with three stories or less?*

Yes

No

Roofs

Is your roof made of Class A fire-resistant rated materials such as asphalt shingles; concrete, brick, or masonry tiles with bird stops; or metal shingles or sheets?*

Roof must be Class A fire-resistant rated; most roof covers are, like asphalt shingles, masonry tiles that include bird stops, and metal.

Fire Resistant Roof

Yes

No

Have you removed fallen debris from your roof?*

The roof, gutters, and downspouts must be cleaned regularly to prevent accumulation of debris such as leaves and pine needles.

Clean Gutters and Roof

Yes

No

Are your gutters and downspouts made of metal?*

Gutters and downspouts must be made from a noncombustible material such as metal.

Non-Combustible Gutters & Downspouts

Yes

No

Not Present, Not Applicable

Have you removed debris from your gutters and downspouts?*

The roof, gutters, and downspouts must be cleaned regularly to prevent accumulation of debris such as leaves and pine needles.

Clean Gutters and Roof

Yes

No

Building Features

Vents

Are your exterior vents (usually found at your attic, under your eaves/soffits, or along your crawl space) ember- and fire-resistant or covered with 1/8-inch or finer metal mesh?*

Vents must be either ember- and fire-resistant or covered (inside or outside) with 1/8-inch or finer metal mesh.

Ember-Resistant Vents

Yes

No

Is your dryer vent equipped with a louver or flap?*

Dryer vents must be made of noncombustible material like metal and have a louver or flap.

Metal Dryer Vent

Yes

No

Ground Clearance for Exterior Wall Siding (Covering/Cladding)

On your home’s exterior walls, is the lowest 6 inches (measured up from the ground or the nearest horizontal surface like a patio/porch) made of noncombustible materials such as concrete, brick, stone, or fiber/cement siding.*

There must be a minimum of 6 vertical inches (measured from the ground up) of noncombustible material at the base of exterior walls.

6-Inch Clearance

Yes

No

Defensible Space

Decks or Covered Porches

Does your property have an attached deck or covered porch?*

Yes

No

Around your deck/covered porch (including stairs), does it have 5 feet of noncombustible defensible space (as part of the 5-foot Home Ignition Zone required for the home)?*

Deck surfaces must be kept clear of debris and combustible materials. Area under deck must also be kept clear; area under decks less than 4 feet high must be enclosed. Deck must have 5 feet of noncombustible defensible space (like the home ignition zone).

Enclosed Porch

Yes

No

On the top surface of your deck/covered porch, is it clear of fallen debris, trees, and shrubs with no more than 10 small potted plants in noncombustible planters*

Yes

No

On the top surface of your deck/covered porch, does it have only noncombustible or ignition-resistant items such as cast aluminum furniture? A small number of combustible items that can be easily removed like chair cushions or door mats are permitted.*

Yes

No

Underneath your deck/covered porch, is it free from all vegetation (grass, weeds, etc.)? Note: Noncombustible materials like concrete, gravel or dirt are permitted.*

Yes

No

Is your deck/covered porch clear from anything being stored beneath it?*

Yes

No

Additionally, for decks or porches 4 feet or less above the ground

Is the area under the deck/porch enclosed with noncombustible wall covering or 1/8 inch metal mesh?*

Yes

No

Not Applicable

For decks with an additional structure (like a pergola or gazebo)

If you have a pergola on your deck, is it made of metal with no solid roof, free from vegetation, and without curtains/drapes/screens?*

Yes

No

Not Applicable

Detached decks

If you have a detached deck, does it meet all the requirements for attached decks*

Deck surfaces must be kept clear of debris and combustible materials. Area under deck must also be kept clear; area under decks less than 4 feet high must be enclosed. Deck must have 5 feet of noncombustible defensible space (like the home ignition zone).

Enclosed Porch

Yes

No

Not Applicable / Not Present

Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) – The First 5 Feet Around the Home

In your 0-5-foot HIZ, is the ground cover made of noncombustible hardscape like rocks, paving stones, or bare soil and free of fallen debris?*

The 5-foot area immediately around the home must have only hardscape or bare soil. All vegetation, including tree branches that overhang this area, must be removed. Combustible items must not be stored or parked here.

Home Ignition Zone

Yes

No

In your 0-5-foot HIZ, is it free from all vegetation (trees, shrubs, bushes, plants, grass, weeds, etc.) including overhanging tree branches?*

Yes

No

In your 0-5-foot HIZ, is it free from all combustible items such as furniture, firewood, and trash cans?*

Yes

No

In your 0-5-foot HIZ, is it free of any parked boats, RVs, or other vehicles?*

Yes

No

Landscaping in the Remainder of the Parcel

Have you removed fallen pine needles, leaves, and other debris from trees and bushes that may have accumulated in your yard?*

The remainder of the property beyond the home ignition zone must be maintained by removing yard debris and dead vegetation and pruning trees and bushes.

Clean Yard

Yes

No

For trees (trunks greater than 4 inches), have you pruned them to have a canopy-to-canopy distance of 10 feet or greater, and branches removed a minimum of 6 feet from the ground?*

The remainder of the property beyond the home ignition zone must be maintained by removing yard debris and dead vegetation and pruning trees and bushes.

Clean Yard

Yes

No

For trees (trunks greater than 4 inches), do they have spacing between the tree canopy and the next closest shrub or small tree should be spaced apart?*

Yes

No

For shrubs and bushes, do they have spacing between them of at least twice the height of the tallest bush? Rows of shrubs or bushes are not allowed.*

Yes

No

Have you removed all dead vegetation?*

Yes

No

Fences

Is any fencing within 5 feet of the home made of noncombustible material such as metal, including where the fence attaches to your home?*

There must be no combustible fencing within 5 feet of the home, including where fences attach to the home.

Non-Combustible Fence

Yes

No

Not Applicable

Accessory Structures & Outbuildings

Do you have any accessory structures/outbuildings that are more than 15 square feet (example more than a 3’x5’ shed, gazebo, ADU, playset) within 30 feet of your home?*

Yes

No

For all accessory structures/outbuildings more than 15 square feet and within 30 feet of your home, do you have 3 or fewer of these structures?*

Within 30 feet of the home, there must be no more than 3 accessory structures (larger than 15 square feet each) like sheds, playsets, gazebos, and ADUs. Each must meet the same requirements as the home, including those for defensible space.

ADUs and Out Buildings

Yes

No

For all accessory structures/outbuildings more than 15 square feet and within 30 feet of your home), do the structures meet all the same requirements as your home?*

0-5-foot noncombustible HIZ surrounding them, that does not overlap the 5-foot HIZ required for the home, decks, or other structures
Noncombustible fencing within 5 feet of structure
6-inch vertical noncombustible clearance at base of wall
If sitting above ground (4 ft or less) similarly to a deck, it must be enclosed underneath with noncombustible material or 1/8” metal mesh
Class A roof, free from debris
If it has gutters, they must be noncombustible and free from debris
Ember resistant vents
Top surface maintained free of debris, noncombustible planters, etc.

Yes

No

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