Every fall, foothill homeowners in Auburn, Granite Bay and Loomis look at the dry grass, the overgrown manzanita and the pile of pine needles on the roof and know the same thing: this has to be cleared before next fire season. The cutting is only half the job. The other half is figuring out where hundreds of pounds of brush actually go. This guide walks through what California and Placer County expect you to clear, the free and low-cost disposal options that already exist, and when renting a dumpster or booking a junk removal crew is the faster answer.
What the rules require: 100 feet, three zones
California Public Resources Code 4291 requires owners of homes in and next to wildland areas to keep 100 feet of defensible space around each structure, or up to the property line if it is closer. Placer County adopted the same standard in its Hazardous Vegetation and Combustible Material Abatement ordinance (County Code Chapter 9.32, Part 4), which applies to the unincorporated county, including Granite Bay. CAL FIRE breaks the 100 feet into three zones:
- Zone 0, 0 to 5 feet (ember-resistant zone): the strip right against the house, decks and stairs, including the space under the deck. The goal is nothing an ember can ignite: no bark mulch, no dead leaves or needles, no firewood stacked against the siding. The state Board of Forestry is still finalizing the detailed Zone 0 regulations, so treat this as best practice now and expect it to become a formal requirement.
- Zone 1, 5 to 30 feet (“lean, clean and green”): remove dead plants, dry grass and leaves, keep branches at least 10 feet from chimneys, and break up continuous rows of shrubs so fire can’t run from plant to plant to your walls.
- Zone 2, 30 to 100 feet (reduced fuel zone): cut annual grass to 4 inches or less, add horizontal space between shrubs and trees, add vertical space between the ground and the lowest branches, and clear 10 feet around wood piles, outbuildings and propane tanks.
Placer County specifics worth knowing
The county ordinance spells out several items homeowners often miss:
- Limb tree branches up 6 feet from the ground.
- Keep a minimum 10-foot clearance along the roadside (more may be required).
- Remove every portion of a tree within 10 feet of a chimney or stovepipe outlet.
- Keep roofs free of leaves, needles and dead wood, and keep overhanging trees free of dead branches.
- Remove non-ornamental climbing vines from trees and structures.
- Vacant lots are covered too: any part of an unimproved parcel within 100 feet of a neighbor’s structure has to meet the same standard.
Tree spacing depends on slope. CAL FIRE’s guideline is 10 feet between tree canopies on flat ground or a slope under 20%, 20 feet on a 20% to 40% slope, and 30 feet on anything steeper. That matters on the canyon lots above the American River in Auburn and on the rolling parcels around Loomis.
Who inspects in Auburn, Granite Bay and Loomis
Inspections and complaints go through the fire agency that serves your address. Your local fire district runs weed abatement inspections during the dry months, May through November. If a property doesn’t comply, the district can issue a Notice to Abate. In Auburn, the City of Auburn fire department handles properties inside city limits. For unincorporated areas served by the Placer County Fire Department, the county asks you to leave a voicemail at 530-886-3570 to request an inspection. If you aren’t sure which agency covers your parcel, the county’s hazardous vegetation page is the place to start.
Where the brush goes: your disposal options
Once the cutting is done, you’ll usually have one of four ways to get rid of the material. Most bigger cleanups use more than one.
1. Your green-waste cart (small amounts, spread over weeks)
Recology Auburn Placer is the hauler for Auburn, the Town of Loomis and most of unincorporated Placer County west of Colfax, which includes Granite Bay. A few rules are specific to the foothills:
- Auburn: the green-waste cart is available only to customers with 96-gallon trash service, and prunings have to be cut small enough to fit inside the cart with the lid closed.
- Loomis: the town’s Residential Green Waste Program uses a separate green toter, and the material is composted at the regional facility near Lincoln. Questions go to Recology Auburn Placer at (530) 885-3735.
- Granite Bay and other unincorporated areas: the county says curbside green-waste collection is available only in certain areas, so call Recology to confirm whether your street has it.
One cart a week works for routine pruning. It doesn’t work for 100 feet of overgrown brush. (If you live in Roseville, Rocklin or Lincoln, see our green waste rules for Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln instead.)
2. The Placer County Chipper Program (piles of branches)
The Placer Resource Conservation District runs a cost-share chipper program funded by Placer County and CAL FIRE. A crew chips your piles and broadcasts the chips on site for $80 per hour. Fees can be waived for households with a disabled placard or a very-low income. It’s a drive-by service on a rotating route, so you can’t book a set appointment, and wait times have run from a day to several weeks. Your piles must meet these rules:
- Stack them by hand (not pushed up with equipment), cut ends facing the access route, and no more than 6 feet high.
- Place them within 10 feet of where the truck and chipper can reach, on level ground or uphill of the access, with no locked gate in the way.
- Branches can be up to 12 inches in diameter and must be longer than 18 inches.
- Vegetation only: no lumber, fencing or other non-plant material.
The program is a good fit if you have time and mostly clean, woody branches. It isn’t a fit for grass clippings, leaves, old fence boards, or a cleanup with a deadline.
3. Self-haul to the WPWMA in Lincoln
The Western Placer Waste Management Authority at 3195 Athens Avenue in Lincoln takes separated green waste (grass, leaves and branches shorter than 2 feet) for a per-yard or per-ton fee. It’s open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Keep plastic bags, pots, metal and trash out of the green load. This works if you have a truck or trailer and don’t mind several trips; from Auburn, each round trip takes a good part of an afternoon.
4. A dumpster or a junk removal crew (the big one-weekend cleanup)
When the brush pile is bigger than a cart can take and you don’t want to wait for the chipper or drive loads to Lincoln, a dumpster in the driveway lets you cut and toss in the same motion.
Using a dumpster for defensible space work
Our yard waste dumpsters take branches, brush, shrubs, hedge trimmings, leaves, grass and old wood fencing. You can mix in household junk from the garage on the same rental. Each one is about 7 feet wide and sized for a residential driveway, so it usually stays on your own property.
- 10 yard dumpster, $599 for 7 days: a typical Zone 0 and Zone 1 cleanup, meaning shrubs pulled back from the house, a season of needles and leaves, and limbed-up lower branches.
- 12 yard dumpster, $649 for 7 days: a full 100-foot cleanup on a standard lot, or brush plus an old fence.
- 15 yard dumpster, $699 for 7 days: acreage, large manzanita or juniper removal, or brush combined with a garage or barn cleanout.
Every rental includes delivery, pick-up and 1 ton of disposal. Brush is bulky but light, so most fire-clearance loads fill up long before they reach the weight limit. Pack it tight: cut long limbs into short lengths and lay them flat, and you’ll fit far more in.
Keep these out: dirt, sod, rock and stumps with root balls full of soil aren’t allowed in a standard dumpster. Neither are hazardous materials such as fuel, paint or chemicals. Empty the gas cans and propane cylinders from the shed and dispose of them separately.
Book in your town:
Rather not load it? Junk removal for cut brush
If the brush is already cut and piled, or a landscaper did the cutting and left the debris, our crew can load and haul it. We use a 15-yard trailer, and there are just three prices:
- $150 minimum for a small pile.
- $500 for half a 15-yard trailer.
- $900 for a full 15-yard trailer.
Loading is included, and you get the price before anything goes on the trailer. Text two or three photos of the pile to (916) 878-0304 for a quote. While we’re there, we can take the other things that tend to pile up near the house, like an old mattress in the shed or a hot tub that’s past its prime. We do not cut brush, remove trees or burn anything. We haul away what you or your landscaper have already cut.
A simple order of work for one weekend
- Start at the walls. Rake out Zone 0, clear the gutters and roof, and move firewood and patio cushions at least 5 feet from the house.
- Work outward. Thin and limb shrubs and trees in Zone 1, then mow grass to 4 inches in Zone 2.
- Sort as you go. Set aside clean branches for the chipper if you’re using it. Everything else (leaves, grass, small brush, old fence boards) goes straight into the dumpster.
- Finish at the road. Clear 10 feet along the driveway and roadside so fire engines can get in.
- Repeat in spring. Grass grows back fast in the foothills. A quick spring pass keeps you compliant through inspection season.
FAQ
How far do I have to clear around my house in Placer County?
100 feet from each structure, or to your property line if that is closer. That’s the standard in both state law (PRC 4291) and Placer County’s hazardous vegetation ordinance. The most intensive clearing belongs within 30 feet of the house.
When are defensible space inspections in Granite Bay and Loomis?
Your local fire district runs its weed abatement inspections during the dry season, May through November. Getting the work done in fall or early spring means you’re ready before inspectors come around.
Can I put brush and branches in a dumpster?
Yes. Branches, brush, shrubs, leaves, grass and wood fencing all go in our dumpsters. Dirt, rock and heavy sod don’t. Cut limbs short and pack them flat so you can fit more.
What size dumpster do I need for a brush cleanup?
A 10 yard ($599 for 7 days) covers most cleanups near the house. A 12 yard ($649) fits a full 100-foot cleanup on a typical lot, and a 15 yard ($699) is for acreage or brush combined with other junk. If you’re between sizes, pick the larger one.
Is the Placer County chipper program free?
It’s low-cost, not free: $80 per hour, with fee waivers for households that qualify by income or have a disabled placard. You can’t pick a set appointment, and the crew only chips clean vegetation stacked to their requirements.
Do you cut brush or remove trees?
No. We rent dumpsters and haul away debris that’s already cut. For cutting, hire a landscaper or tree service, then have us take the pile, starting at the $150 minimum.
Can I burn my brush instead?
Burning is regulated by your fire agency and the local air district, and it’s often suspended during fire season. Check with them before you burn anything. Hauling or chipping avoids the question entirely.
Ready to clear before next season? Call or text (916) 878-0304, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, or book your dumpster online.
Leave a Reply