MOFD hired two additional fire prevention inspectors, according to Lamorinda Weekly's June 10, 2026 report, for the 2026 season, and inspections are already underway across Moraga and Orinda. If your street is on the schedule (and many are), an inspector may be on your property within weeks. That does not have to be stressful. Here is exactly what happens, what they look for, and how to make sure the visit is a formality rather than a surprise.
Why MOFD Inspects Your Property
California law (PRC 4291 and 4291.1) establishes the defensible space requirements and annual inspection mandate for all properties in State Responsibility Areas and Local Responsibility Areas with elevated fire hazard designations. Most Lamorinda properties fall within this category. If you're uncertain about your parcel, check the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer. MOFD's Fire Prevention Division carries out that mandate each spring and summer.
The inspections are not punitive. The goal is compliance, not citations. Most inspectors will talk you through what they find, explain what needs to change, and give you time to fix it. Two additional inspectors joined the team in June 2026, expanding coverage without changing the process.
What Inspectors Actually Check
An inspection is a walk of your property against four categories. Inspectors follow the zone framework established by PRC 4291 and MOFD's local enforcement priorities.
Zone Zero: The 0–5 foot perimeter (MOFD's top recommendation) Clearing the 0–5 foot perimeter immediately around your home is one of the most important things you can do to reduce ember ignition risk, and MOFD inspectors will flag combustible material in this zone. ⚠️ A note on regulatory status: AB 3074 (2020) established Zone Zero as a statewide concept, but the State Fire Marshal's implementing regulations are still being finalized as of June 2026. We're not certain whether Zone Zero carries formal citation authority during the 2026 MOFD inspection cycle. Call the Fire Prevention Office at (925) 258-4599 to confirm what applies to your property. Regardless, MOFD strongly recommends clearing this zone, and it's good practice to do so.
Inspectors look for any combustible material directly against the house or within 5 feet: wood chip or bark mulch, dry vegetation, stored items, cardboard, patio furniture left against walls, or debris under decks. Acceptable ground covers: gravel, decomposed granite, or bare soil. ⚠️ Renters: changes to ground cover within this zone are structural property modifications; notify your landlord before making them and confirm your lease allows it. If your landlord refuses to authorize Zone Zero clearing, document your request in writing and call MOFD's Fire Prevention Office at (925) 258-4599, who may be able to assist or clarify responsibility in your specific situation.
Zone 1: The 5–30 foot perimeter This is the highest-scrutiny zone after Zone Zero. Inspectors look for dead vegetation against foundations or fences, stored items within the perimeter, and vegetation that overhangs or touches the structure. Tree branches must be limbed to at least 6 feet, and more clearance may be needed if tall shrubs grow beneath the tree (rule of thumb: limb to 3× the height of the tallest understory shrub beneath the tree). Plants must be well-spaced and free of dead material.
Zone 2: The 30–100 foot perimeter (or to the property line) Spacing and fuel continuity are the focus. Shrubs must be separated so fire cannot spread between them, with spacing requirements that increase on steeper slopes. Trees must be limbed to 6 feet, and dry grass should be cut short during fire season. Steeper slopes get more conservative standards.
Roof, gutters, and vents Accumulated debris in gutters and on roof surfaces is a primary ember-ignition point. Inspectors look for leaf-and-needle buildup in gutters, debris on the roof deck, and vents that lack fine-mesh ember screening. This is where many first-time violations surface.
Addressing and access Your address must be visible from the road in both directions, with numbers at least 4 inches tall, reflective or high-contrast. Driveways need adequate clearance (typically 13.5 feet vertical) for fire apparatus. Confirm the exact requirement with MOFD for your property. If an engine cannot reach your home, inspectors will note it.
The June–July 2026 Inspection Schedule
Here is where inspectors are working and when, per the Lamorinda Weekly June 10, 2026 report:
- Through June 19: St. Mary's Road, Moraga Road, Rheem Blvd, Glorietta Blvd, Camino Pablo
- June 22: Unincorporated areas
- June 23–24 (Moraga): School Street to Canyon Road
- June 25–July 2 (Orinda): Monte Vista Ridge Road, Claremont Avenue
- July 20–31 (Moraga): Camino Pablo
⚠️ Camino Pablo appears in both the June and July windows as reported by Lamorinda Weekly (this likely reflects different segments of the road across separate inspection cycles). If you live on Camino Pablo, confirm which window applies to your address by calling MOFD's Fire Prevention Office at (925) 258-4599.
If your address is on or near one of these corridors, the visit could come any weekday during that window. Inspectors generally work weekday mornings; confirm with MOFD if the timing matters for your plans.
What Happens If You Get a Notice
⚠️ If you are elderly, disabled, or unable to perform property abatement yourself, call MOFD's Fire Prevention Office at (925) 258-4599 before or immediately after receiving a notice. They can provide referrals and information about assistance options.
If an inspector finds violations, you will receive a written notice listing what needs to change. This is normal. It happens to many properties every season. The notice is not a fine.
The typical sequence:
- Notice of violation. Lists the items that need correction with a deadline, typically around 30 days ⚠️ (confirm the specific timeframe on your notice). ⚠️ If your notice includes larger projects: Contractor availability in Lamorinda during June–July can run 6–8 weeks. If the work on your notice requires a contractor, call MOFD's Fire Prevention Office at (925) 258-4599 right away. It's worth asking whether additional time is available when work is already in progress.
- Correction period. You do the work. Take dated photos when finished. Before-and-after documentation demonstrates good faith and can speed re-inspection.
- Re-inspection. An inspector returns to verify compliance. If it is resolved, the case closes.
- Administrative citation. Continued non-compliance can result in fines. ⚠️ Specific penalty amounts are set by MOFD's enforcement ordinance. Call the Fire Prevention Office at (925) 258-4599 or check mofd.org for current figures.
- Abatement. In persistent cases, MOFD can arrange hazard abatement and bill the property owner for the cost plus administrative fees.
Most homeowners never get past step two. Treat a notice as a to-do list, not a penalty.
Get Ahead of It: The Free Pre-Inspection Option
MOFD's Community Wildfire Safety Ambassador program lets you request a voluntary, no-consequence walkthrough before an official inspector arrives. The ambassador is trained to the same standards and will tell you exactly what a formal inspection would flag. Ambassadors are not enforcement staff and the program is designed as education only, and no report is generated from your visit. ⚠️ Confirm current program policy at mofd.org if this matters to your decision.
Request a visit at mofd.org/wildfire-ambassador. ⚠️ Verify this URL resolves before visiting. If it returns an error, call the Fire Prevention Office at (925) 258-4599 to request an Ambassador assessment.
Pre-Inspection Walkthrough: What to Fix First
Many violations fall into two categories: quick tasks you can do this afternoon, and larger projects that may take a weekend, a contractor, or both. Knowing which is which keeps you from underestimating the work.
Quick tasks (1–2 hours):
- Pull combustibles from Zone Zero. Walk the 5-foot perimeter of every wall, deck, and fence. Clear stored items, firewood, cardboard, potted plants sitting against walls, and dry windblown debris that has accumulated at the base of the house. ⚠️ Renters: confirm with your landlord before removing any installed ground cover.
- Pull dead vegetation from the foundation. Anything dry that is touching your house is a violation: dry vines, spent plants, litter accumulated against a wall.
- Clear your gutters. If you cannot remember the last time they were cleared, that is your answer. A gutter scoop and leaf blower take under an hour on most single-story homes. ⚠️ If you cannot safely access your roof or gutters, hire a professional. Do not attempt roof work if you are unsure of your footing.
- Look up. Flag any branches within 10 feet of your chimney or overhanging the roofline for trimming.
- Check your address numbers and driveway. Can you read the numbers from the street, in both directions? Is there anything across the driveway (a branch, a gate) that would stop a fire engine?
- Take dated photos when you finish. Documentation helps if anything is disputed later.
Larger projects (plan ahead):
- Replace combustible mulch in Zone Zero. Swapping bark or wood chip mulch for gravel or decomposed granite around the full perimeter is the right long-term fix, but it's a multi-day or contractor project, not an afternoon task. Prioritize removing the worst concentrations now and plan the full replacement before next season. ⚠️ Contractor demand in Lamorinda during fire season is high. Contact vendors early. Getting a landscaper scheduled in June–July can take 6–8 weeks.
- Limbing trees in Zone 1. Flagging branches for trimming is quick; the actual work depends on tree size and access. For large trees, plan for a licensed arborist.
- Vent screening. Adding ember-resistant mesh to existing vents is a home hardening improvement. An inspector may note it without requiring immediate correction; confirm with MOFD.
An inspector who arrives at a well-maintained property has nothing to write down. That is the goal.
Next Steps
- Defensible Space Zones: The 0-1-2 System: the complete zone-by-zone framework, from the foundation wall out to 100 feet, with checklists
- MOFD Defensible Space Requirements for 2026: the detailed guide to what inspectors look for and the compliance checklist
- Your Home Fire Readiness Score: a structured self-assessment to find the gaps before an inspector does
⚠️ If you are elderly, disabled, or unable to perform property abatement yourself, call MOFD's Fire Prevention Office at (925) 258-4599. They can provide referrals and information about assistance options.
Sources: California PRC 4291 | MOFD Fire Prevention | Lamorinda Weekly: MOFD Reveals Which Areas Will Be Inspected | CAL FIRE Defensible Space
This article is published by Lamorinda Ready for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute professional, legal, engineering, or safety advice. Regulatory requirements described here are based on California law and MOFD guidelines as of June 2026 and may be subject to local amendments. Verify current requirements with MOFD's Fire Prevention Division before making compliance decisions. For guidance specific to your property, consult MOFD or a qualified professional.