Wildfire Adapted - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Wildfire Adapted is a FEMA funded pilot project designed to help residents improve their home and community resilience to wildfire through free Defensible Space and Home Wildfire Risk Assessments and community workshops. There are 14 areas in the pilot project throughout Sonoma County, and project opportunities are available in most areas. The project aims to help residents understand, prioritize, and complete wildfire risk reduction activities and inspire them toward positive action in mitigating fire risk.

This is a first-of-its-kind project for both the County and the funders, so there are several unknowns we will be navigating, and we appreciate your understanding as we develop this innovative approach to protecting our communities.

Phase 1 includes free Defensible Space and Home Wildfire Risk Assessments across all project areas. Phase 1 was completed in 2025. 

The Wildfire Adapted project has experienced significant delays in awarding and releasing implementation funding for Phase 2. Given this uncertain environment, Permit Sonoma is pausing grant activities for federally funded wildfire mitigation activities after September 30, 2026.  We continue to monitor changes closely, complete remaining grant obligations, and leverage existing efforts and partnerships where possible.

Wildfire Adapted is funded by the County of Sonoma and FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Permit Sonoma developed and manages the pilot project; it is not part of a code enforcement program.

If you are not in any of the project areas, many resources are still available to support you in preparing your home for wildfire season. Learn more at Resources, Education, and Preparedness.

We are unable to expand the project areas at this time. The environmental review document fulfilling California Environmental Quality Act – CEQA for the project areas has been completed and submitted to FEMA for review and no changes can be made.

You can contact us by phone at (707) 565-8575 or by email at WildfireAdapted@sonomacounty.gov.

Make sure to include in your communications to us:

• Your name
• Best contact information
• Assessors Parcel Number (APN) 
• Property address

Defensible Space is the 100-foot area (or to the property line, whichever comes first) around your home and attachments. Three zones make up Defensible Space.

• Zone Zero is from your home's exterior walls and attachments out to 5 feet.
• Zone One is from 5 to 30 feet.
• Zone Two is from 30 to 100 feet (or to the property line).

The closer to the home, the higher the risk. You can read more about Defensible Space at ReadyforWildfire.org or set up a time to meet with a Wildfire Adapted assessor to learn directly about vulnerabilities around your home.

During a Defensible Space Assessment, a fire professional visits your home to assess vegetation and other fire hazards within a 100-foot radius around the home. These assessments provide information about essential risk reduction techniques that can help reduce your home's potential for ignition. A Defensible Space Assessment Report is customized to your property so you can understand and prioritize the recommended changes. The assessment aims to help you know how to lessen wildfire risk on your property and pass a defensible space inspection, should you receive one from your local fire agency. Wildfire Adapted assessments are not part of a code compliance program.

Unimproved Parcels are bare lots that have no buildings or other structures. Sonoma County Code Chapter 13A defines regulations for unimproved parcels, including managing vegetation within 10 feet of roadsides or adjoining structures. 

The Wildfire Adapted program provides free Defensible Space Assessments to all homes and unimproved parcels in the project areas.

The Zone Zero ember-resistant zone is currently not required by law, but science has proven it to be the most important of all the defensible space zones. Because it is so important, it will be a requirement for Defensible Space within the next two years for properties in State Responsibility Areas. This zone includes the area under and around all attachments (decks, stairs, porches, etc.) and requires the most stringent wildfire fuel reduction. The ember-resistant zone is designed to keep fire or embers from igniting materials that can spread the fire to your home.

You can read more about Zone Zero and Defensible Space at ReadyforWildfire.org.

We have completed defensible space assessments in the project areas. 

If you are not sure if you got your assessment, or if you would like to receive a copy of the assessment results, please email us at WildfireAdapted@sonomacounty.gov or call us at (707) 565-8575.

Home Hardening, also known as Structure Hardening or Ignition Resistant Construction (IRC), replaces or modifies parts of buildings that are vulnerable to embers, direct flames, and radiant heat from wildfire. Embers cause over 90% of home ignitions. Simple treatments can be very effective in preventing ember ignition. Learn what you can do—from DIY projects you can do yourself to significant fixes, like replacing a roof.

A Home Wildfire Risk Assessment evaluates where the most vulnerable areas are on the exterior of your home or structure. After each assessment, the property owner is provided with a report outlining a list of potential vulnerabilities customized to their structure and what they can do to reduce risk of wildfire.

No. These no cost assessments are not part of any code compliance or code enforcement program.

The Wildfire Adapted Project does not share information collected during Defensible Space or Home Wildfire Risk Assessments with outside entities such as insurance companies, except in the unlikely event of a Public Records Request. Insurance entities have their own standards and assessment methodologies and have not historically requested access to defensible space assessments conducted by CAL FIRE or other entities to determine wildfire risk. Getting a Wildfire Adapted Assessment should not affect your insurance.

Wildfire Adapted's Wildfire Home Risk Assessment Reports include improvements suggested by insurance industry programs, especially the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety’s Wildfire Prepared Home. These are included specifically to help property owners understand what their insurance carrier may ask them in order to keep their coverage or qualify for an insurance discount.