Compliance Assistance Program
The Compliance Assistance Program is designed to assist at-risk homeowners that have recently received a notice to abate by a fire department or CAL FIRE and are not able to comply due to physical, economic, or other barriers. For example, low-income homeowners and physically disabled or elderly individuals who are unable to pay a contractor.
Our program is designed to assist you in getting your property in compliance, as we can only complete one day of service per household, we do not guarantee we will complete 100 feet of defensible space, depending on how much work your property may need, terrain, and other factors.
This program is WAITLIST only. An application is not a guarantee of service and each application is thoughtfully considered.
How the process works
The Compliance Assistance Program is a no-cost assistance program, dependent on grant funding, that helps residents who cannot create defensible space due to physical and financial barriers comply with defensible space ordinances.
- Join our program waitlist by completing an application.
- Receive a site visit from a FSCSDC staff member.
- Assistance is provided through one of our contracted tree care companies.
The applicant must have received an abatement notice from a fire department, be unable to complete the work required to comply, and those within very high fire severity zones are prioritized.
Guidelines:
- You must be the legal owner of the property.
- You must have received a citation or notice to abate from a fire agency.
- You must be unable to complete this work due to economic AND physical barriers:
- One-person household: Income <$57,900 (annually)
- Two-person household: Income <$66,150 (annually)
- Low income thresholds are determined by the 2025 San Diego County Area Median Income (AMI), to be eligible for our program, participants must meet the very low income guideline of 50% of the County’s AMI. Proof of monthly/yearly income by income tax return, or other comparable means may need to be shared. Income that will be considered is total gross income (income prior to deductions, not gross adjusted income).
Notes:
- This program is funding dependent and services are offered on a first-come, first-served basis as program funds are available.
- Defensible space work is performed by professional contractors, who are bonded and insured.
- This program is offered by the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County in partnership with the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County. Funding is provided by the San Diego Gas & Electric.
- In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
- Completing the application is NOT a guarantee of service.
What if I haven't received a notice to abate?
If you haven’t received an abatement notice from a local fire department, but are looking for assistance in creating defensible space, check out our Defensible Space Assistance Program, available in a targeted area of the County.