Living on a Moraga hillside is special, but steep slopes and seasonal winds can turn a small spark into fast-moving fire. You want to protect your home without stripping the landscape or harming your slope. In this guide, you’ll get a clear, hillside‑smart plan for defensible space, plant choices, spacing on slopes, materials, permits, and local timelines. Let’s dive in.
Why Moraga hillsides need a plan
Moraga sits within the Moraga‑Orinda Fire District (MOFD), which actively enforces exterior hazard abatement and fuels reduction. The town’s canyons, oak‑woodland patches, and open space can accelerate fire spread and increase ember exposure on slopes. Local standards and inspections make it important to plan your landscaping with both safety and compliance in mind. For district guidance and annual expectations, review the MOFD abatement standards and schedule, including the June 1 due date for compliance each year, on the MOFD abatement page.
Know the rules first
State defensible space law
California Public Resources Code § 4291 requires you to maintain defensible space up to 100 feet around structures, or to the property line, with more intensive fuel reduction from 5 to 30 feet and an ember‑resistant area closest to the home. Read the statute text for details in PRC § 4291.
MOFD local standards
MOFD requires 100 feet of defensible space from structures, not beyond the property line, and specifies clearance for grasses, shrubs, trees, gutters, and roofs. The district runs annual inspections, with compliance typically due by June 1. See current requirements on the MOFD abatement page and broader fuels program guidance on the MOFD fuels mitigation page.
Zone Zero context near the home
California has been developing statewide rules for a very near‑home ember‑resistant zone, often called Zone 0. State implementation timelines have evolved, and local rules may be stricter. For background, see reporting on the law’s rollout and confirm current local standards before finalizing your plan (AB 3074 context).
Permits, trees, and creeks
Before removing protected trees or doing major work on slopes, check Town of Moraga rules and permit needs. Start with Town of Moraga Planning. Work near creeks or drainage features can trigger extra reviews, so coordinate early with Public Works and follow the Town’s guidance for storm‑drain and creek maintenance.
Design your defensible space by zone
Zone 0: 0–5 feet from structures
Keep this area free of easy fuel. Remove combustible mulch and bark, flammable plants, and stored combustibles. Clean roofs and gutters and move woodpiles and containers away from the house. Cal Fire’s defensible space guidance outlines the immediate zone in detail (Cal Fire Defensible Space). For local tips, see the Moraga‑Orinda Firewise defensible space guide.
Zone 1: 5–30 feet
Think Lean, Clean, and Green. Use low‑fuel, well‑irrigated plants. Prune to remove dead material, separate shrubs from tree canopies, and eliminate ladder fuels that let flames climb. Maintain consistent spacing so fire stays on the ground and slows.
Zone 2: 30–100 feet
Break up continuous fuels and keep flames low. Mow or graze grasses to safe heights per MOFD guidance, thin shrubs, and prune trees. On slopes, increase spacing beyond flat‑lot rules. PRC § 4291 requires treatment up to 100 feet, or to your property line if closer (PRC § 4291).
Get slope spacing right
On Moraga hillsides, spacing must increase with slope. Cal Fire’s guidance provides simple multipliers for horizontal spacing between shrubs:
- Flat to mild slope under 20 percent: space shrubs about 2 times their height.
- 20 to 40 percent slope: space about 4 times shrub height.
- Over 40 percent slope: space about 6 times shrub height.
Trees also need more horizontal spacing as slope increases, generally ranging from about 10 feet on flats to about 30 feet on steep slopes. Use these multipliers when laying out your plantings so fire does not jump from plant to plant (Cal Fire Defensible Space).
Plants, mulch, and irrigation
Choose fire‑wise plants
Follow the right plant, right place rule. Favor plants with higher moisture content, fewer resins, open branching, slower growth, and low deadwood. Native choices can work well when maintained. Examples often recommended for Bay Area conditions include coffeeberry, toyon, some ceanothus varieties, deer grass, lavender, and many succulents near patios. Any plant can burn if neglected, so spacing and maintenance matter most. Explore guidance from UC ANR’s fire‑resistant plant resources.
Irrigation plan
Keep Zone 1 plantings irrigated so live fuel moisture stays higher. Deep, infrequent watering often supports plant health without excess growth. Adjust seasonally and remove dead material during routine checks. See plant‑care considerations in the UC ANR resource.
Mulch and hardscape
Avoid combustible mulch within the first 0–5 feet. Replace with gravel, stone, or other noncombustible materials and add pavers or paths to break up fuels. On steep lots, balance hardscape with erosion control and follow Town guidance for work near drainage or creeks (Cal Fire Defensible Space; Town creek and storm guidance).
Home hardening complements landscaping
Defensible space works best alongside home hardening. Screen vents with fine mesh where recommended by MOFD, enclose or shield under‑deck areas, choose ignition‑resistant decking and rails when you upgrade, and keep roofs and gutters clear. Review local expectations on the MOFD fuels mitigation page and pair them with your landscape plan.
Step‑by‑step hillside checklist
- Map your zones: 0–5 ft, 5–30 ft, 30–100 ft. Note slopes and apply the Cal Fire slope multipliers when setting plant spacing (Cal Fire Defensible Space).
- Clear easy wins first: remove dead material, clean roofs and gutters, and relocate woodpiles and combustibles out of Zone 0.
- Replace combustible mulch near the house with rock or stone and use low‑fuel, irrigated plants in Zone 1.
- Thin shrubs and prune trees to break up fuels in Zones 1 and 2, increasing spacing on steeper slopes.
- Confirm permits before major removals or work near creeks with Town of Moraga Planning and Public Works.
- Set a maintenance rhythm that gets you inspection‑ready by MOFD’s June 1 deadline. Check standards on the MOFD abatement page.
- Tap local resources: neighborhood programs and potential funding can support larger projects. See the Contra Costa Wildfire Mitigation Program and the Moraga‑Orinda Firewise defensible space guide.
Implementation, contractors, and timing
Start with a defensible space assessment and your zone map. For tree work or grading on slopes, contact the Town early about permits and protected trees, and coordinate with Public Works for any creek‑adjacent work. Avoid clear‑cutting that can destabilize soils; pair fuel reduction with erosion control and appropriate revegetation. Plan your work to meet MOFD’s annual inspection cycle and be ready before June 1, using the MOFD abatement standards as your checklist.
Ready to protect your Moraga home?
If you are planning improvements or preparing to sell, a fire‑wise hillside plan protects your investment and supports a smoother sale. For local insight on what matters most to buyers and inspectors in Lamorinda, connect with Ann Newton Cane for a strategic conversation.
FAQs
How far must I clear around a Moraga home?
- California law and MOFD guidance require defensible space up to 100 feet from structures, or to your property line, with more intensive reduction 5–30 feet and an ember‑resistant area nearest the home. See PRC § 4291 and the MOFD abatement page.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Moraga?
- Possibly. Moraga has rules for protected and native trees and may require permits, especially near creeks or on steep slopes. Start with Town of Moraga Planning and coordinate with Public Works for drainage or creek areas.
What plants work for steep Moraga slopes?
- Choose low‑growing, well‑maintained plants with higher moisture and low oils, and increase spacing using Cal Fire’s slope multipliers. Use regional guidance from UC ANR and keep up on maintenance, irrigation, and deadwood removal.
Will vegetation removal increase erosion on my hillside?
- It can. Aggressive clearing on steep slopes may destabilize soils. Pair fuel reduction with erosion control and follow the Town’s storm‑drain and creek guidance. Confirm permit needs before major work.
Are there local programs to help pay for fuels work?
- Contra Costa County’s Wildfire Mitigation Program funds community projects and may offer homeowner assistance programs when available. Check the county program page for current opportunities.
