Visit the Healdsburg Library for our
Cool Plants / Hot Plants reference

The plant binder can be found in the
"Literary Produce" area in the Reference
section of the Healdsburg Library.

City of Healdsburg & County of Sonoma Vegetation Clearance Requirements

City of Healdsburg CFC Section 503.2.1 (as adopted by the City): In areas designated as Moderate, High or Very High Fire Severity Zones by the Director of CALFire or as a High Fire Hazard Severity Zone or greater in the Healdsburg General Plan, access roads shall have a flammable vegetation clearance area on each side of the road or driveway of not less than ten (10) feet unless otherwise authorized by the Fire Chief due to extenuating circumstances.

County of Sonoma Sec. 13-56. Flammable vegetation clearance areas for roads and driveways: All roads and driveways shall have a flammable vegetation clearance area on each side of the road or driveway of not less than ten feet (10”) unless otherwise authorized by the director of permit and resource management. (Ord. No. 5373 - 2, 2002: Ord. No. 4905 - 1, 1995.)

Fire-Resistant vs. Highly Flammable Plants

Flammable Plants

  • Blade-leaf or needle leaf evergreens.
  • Leaves are typically stiff, leathery, small or fine lacy.
  • Leaves and wood usually contain volatile waxes, fats, terpenes, or oils.
  • Typically aromatic (crushed leaves have strong odors).
  • Usually contain plentiful fine, twiggy, dry or dead materials.
  • May have pubescent (hair covered) leaves. May have loose or papery bark. They are cured and dry.
  • Grasses: Any dry grass.
  • Herbs: Any cured herb.
  • Shrub: Any shrub with excessive dead wood. Any over-mature, dying or dead brush.
  • Trees: Any over-dense forest, stand or urban forest planting when under stress or over- mature.
  • Water stressed plants that are in poor condition or more flammable
  • Plants that flame (not smolder) when preheated and ignited with a match.

Fire-Resistant Plants (“Pyrophytes”)

  • Leaves tend to be supple, moist and easily crushed.
  • Their sap is usually gummy, resinous and has a strong odor.
  • Trees tend to be clean, not bushy, and have little dead wood.
  • Shrubs are low growing (‹2 feet) with minimal dead material.
  • Tall shrubs are clean, not bushy.
  • Sap is water like and typically does not have a strong odor.