*NEW* $7,500.00 (a 50% increase) each fiscal year, from  July 1 - June 30 is available per household on a first come, first served basis until budgeted funding has been depleted. Each property owner may receive 50% reimbursement on approved items and/or work completed.

Program Mission: The Home Hardening and Defensible Space program should collectively protect the entire district’s community while developing a fair program that allows every resident to participate.

 This program is funded in entirety by the Los Trancos County Maintenance District and is available only to most homeowners in Los Trancos and Vista Verde.

Program participation requires completion of a home assessment by WFPD. To schedule yours, please use the Schedule Your Home Assessment Button Below:

A partial list, details follow.                                                             

1. Zone 0 (0’-5’) hardscape material and plant removal/relocation. Adding deck skirting.
2. Combustible roof replacement.
3. House vent replacement/retrofit. Adding chimney spark arrestors.
4. Gutter guards and vinyl gutter replacement.
5. Replacement/retrofit of single paned windows and skylights, combustible siding and skirting, non-fire rated garage doors and exterior doors, caulking exterior gaps 1/8” or more.
6. Enclosing open eaves. Adding fire rated shutters.
7. Replacement/retrofit of attached combustible decks, fencing, patio covers, carports, balconies (ordinance requires minimum of 6 feet from a structure be non-combustible)
8. Proper address marking. Clearing driveways 13.5’ overhead and 5’ from edge.
9. Removal/mowing of hazardous ladder fuels: brush, broom, thistle, annual grasses.
10. Hazardous and dead tree removal. Limbing up and thinning trees.
11. Adding an automatic gas shut off valve.

You will not be reimbursed for: (A partial list) 

• New Structures, plants or watering systems.
• Re-locating combustibles (eg: firewood piles)
• Labor for work that you do yourself.

 1.) Immediate/Ember Resistance Zone 0 (0’-5’) – This zone extends from zero to five feet from buildings and flammable structures, including the area under and around all attached decks. This zone requires the most stringent wildfire fuel reduction to keep fire or embers from igniting materials that can spread the fire to your home. Guidance and incentives for this zone:

a) No combustible bark or mulch, such as wood chips, should be in this zone. Reimbursement toward materials and installation costs to create a hardscape of non-combustible material or mulch such as gravel, stone, pavers, concrete. Materials will be reimbursed at the lesser of $2.50/sq ft or 50% of actual cost.

b) Limit plants in Zone 0 to low growing, nonwoody, properly watered and maintained plants if next to non-combustible decking or siding; no plant material if next to combustible decking or siding. Reimbursement toward labor to remove and/or transplant plants from Zone 0. Non-reimbursable expenses include watering systems, new plantings and plant maintenance.

c) Reimbursement toward replacing existing combustible fencing, gates, carports, etc. attached to or within 6 feet of a structure with noncombustible alternatives. See “7.) Existing Attached Structures” below for incentive details.

d) Reimbursement toward adding fireproof skirting to the underside face of decks that are three feet or less from the ground to keep leaves and debris out.

e) No firewood or lumber can be in this zone unless in a non-combustible enclosure. Note that relocation and new structures are non-reimbursable expenses.

  2.) Roof Assembly – Reimbursement toward the cost of replacing an existing combustible roof with a rated non-combustible roof. For small roofs such as for  carports, ADU’s or outbuildings, reimbursement will be capped at the lesser of 50% of the cost of a Class A foam or asphalt shingle roof or the actual cost; if using other roof types (slate, tile, standing metal seam, etc.), pre-approval will require that you obtain proper vendor invoicing with cost breakdown.

  3.) House Vents & Chimney Spark Arrestors – Reimbursement toward materials and installation costs to replace/retrofit exterior house vents that have screen openings over 1/8” and spark arrestors with screen openings over 1/4” with fire rated vents such as Brandguard and Vulcan, or screens made of a non-combustible, ember resistant mesh with a maximum opening of 1/8” for house vents and 1/4” for chimney spark arrestors, such as Wildfire Defense Mesh (ask for WFPD 20% discount, a limited time offer).

  4.) Gutters and Gutter Guards - Reimbursement toward materials and installation costs to install non-flammable gutter guards to prevent leaf buildup, and to replace vinyl gutters with metal gutters. While gutters should be cleaned regularly, note that this is not a reimbursable expense.

  5.) Exterior Windows/Skylights/Doors/Garage Doors & Siding/Skirting – Reimbursement toward materials and installation costs of replacing single-paned windows and skylights with double-paned tempered glass windows/skylights, replacing non- fire rated exterior doors and garage doors with fire rated non-combustible exterior doors and garage doors, replacing or improving existing combustible exterior siding, walls and skirting with a rated non-combustible material, and for caulking or filling exterior gaps of 1/8” or more on all exterior surfaces to prevent ember intrusion from wildfires

  6.) Open Eave Enclosure & Fire Rated Shutters – Reimbursement toward materials and installation costs of enclosing open eaves with a rated non-combustible material and of adding fire rated shutters only if covering non-fire-safe windows. Note: An eave is the underside of a roof that extends beyond the external walls of a building; open eaves are susceptible to attic ember intrusion from wildfires.

  7.) Existing Attached Combustible Structures – These may act as a wick to bring fire to your house and primary structures. Reimbursement toward materials and installation costs of replacing or retrofitting combustible decks, patio covers, balconies, carports and fencing with rated non-combustible materials. Fence replacement reimbursement will be limited to six feet from a structure. Consideration will be given to replacing existing combustible structures that are within six feet of a house/primary structure.

  8.) Home Access – Reimbursement toward materials and installation costs for clearly marking your property address with reflective non-combustible material that is visible from the street (minimum of 4-inch numbers on a contrasting background), for clearing driveway of overhanging trees up to a height of 13.5 feet and of vegetation at least 5 feet on each side, for providing proper “KNOX” gate access for emergency responders and WFPD, for consideration and creation of a turnaround for emergency vehicles, and for private bridges being rated and posted by an engineer.

  9.) Brush and Ladder Fuel Mitigation – Reimbursement for labor to pull, cut back or remove hazardous ladder fuel brush such as French and Scotch broom, coyote bush, thistle and annual grasses, also highly flammable plants such as juniper, bamboo and old woody plants such as rosemary, some hedges, etc.

  10.) Hazardous Trees, Tree Pruning & Stump Removal – Reimbursement for costs to prune and thin trees, to remove dead trees, branches and hazardous trees such as the ‘flammable five” Eucalyptus, Pine, Acacia, Juniper and Cypress. Remove tree limbs within 5 feet of structures and within 10 feet of chimneys, overhead electrical facilities/lines and above roofs. To prevent fire from reaching treetops, limb up all tree branches a minimum of 6 to 10 feet from the ground; for smaller trees limb up 1/3 of the tree height from the ground.

Reimbursement for stump removal only in Zone 0 (0’-5’) and Zone 1 (5’-30’).

11.) Automatic Gas Shut Off Value - Reimbursement toward materials and labor for valve installation that will shut off gas automatically in an earthquake.

Program participation requires a home assessment by WFPD approximately every 2 years.

The WFPD Inspector will provide guidance and prioritize your needs during the assessment. To maximize program benefits, be present, ask questions and collaborate with the inspector on a plan. This program covers much required work. 

I have an emergency and my home cannot be assessed in time, can I participate? Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for emergencies, such as a tree that’s fallen near a roadway or structure. Schedule a Home Assessment immediately using the Home Assessment Button at the top and note in the details field, "this is an emergency assessment".

 Is my property eligible?     

All properties in Los Trancos, Vista Verde and Oak Forest Court with the following tax rate areas comprise the Los Trancos County Maintenance District are eligible to participate in this program: 019160, 070006, 070030, 070034, 070035, 070036, 070037, 070038, 070041, 070042. Your tax rate area is noted on your property tax bill.

I have my assessment and am ready to get some work done, what’s next? 

Get pre-approval**:                                                                                                                                   Figure out what incentive you would like to take advantage of, get a rough dollar estimate for the project(s), log into your FireAside account, find the related item(s) and upload a written request for pre-approval. Pre-approval is required to be sure that your project is eligible, and funds are available. You will receive an email from WFPD regarding approval. Please do not submit via email or mail.

Plan to complete your project(s) within 90 days of receipt of your pre-approval to ensure funds availability. If you need an extension, submit a request to wfpdplanreview@woodsidefire.gov.

• Note that if you do the work yourself, you can be reimbursed only for supplies. 

Incentive work is complete, how do I request reimbursement?**

When a project for which you’ve received approval is complete, log into your FireAside account, find the related item(s), upload 'invoices' and ‘after’ pictures showing your completed work. For clarity or if helpful, upload a summary/explanation. If one receipt/invoice is for multiple items on your report, select "apply to entire application"

 If you cannot locate the original email, you can also just sign up for an account, however you do need your code from your report: 

Sign up | Defensible Space Report

When will I receive reimbursement?

 You will receive 50% of the money you spent on pre-approved work up to a max of $7,500 per fiscal year starting from July 1 to June 30, starting July 1, 2024 ending June 30, 2026. (E.g., spend $3,000, receive $1,500; spend $17,000, receive $7,500, the maximum.) WFPD issues checks once per quarter per San Mateo County dispersal rules.

Note: Expect reimbursements the quarter following WFPD award (reimbursement approval) email notification.

 See Reimbursement Process for Step by Step Instructions for Pre-Approval and Completed Work (Uploading Invoices and Photos).

1. Begin by accessing your Home Assessment Report 

How To Video: Access Your Home Assessment Report

Location of the 6-digit access code on your email, see below:

2. On the left side of the screen is a list of options, select Rebate Program

3. Select apply and begin the Pre-Approval Process, once submitted please allow 1 week for response.

4. Once approved, you can begin your improvements.

5. Once completed, log back into your Fire Aside account and continue process by uploading your invoices and photos.

6. After submission, please allow 1-2 weeks for processing. We will submit to the County every month, so long as your application was submitted through Fire Aside, otherwise it will be quarterly for manual processing.

7. Your check will be mailed to the address inputted in Fire Aside.

For a detailed explanation, please watch the tutorial:

The Town of Woodside is committed to reducing the threat of wildfire in our community. In support of this effort, the Town Council has established the Defensible Space and Home Hardening Matching Fund Program.

Each program year is from July 1st through June 30th.

Defensible Space is the area between a house and an oncoming wildfire where the vegetation has been modified and/or maintained in a way that significantly reduces fire fuel loads and the wildfire threat and provides an opportunity for firefighters to more effectively defend the house. Additionally, defensible space needs to be established and maintained a minimum of 30 feet from the perimeter of the property. The following activities are examples of ways to create defensible space:

• Removal of dead brush and woody debris;
• Mowing annual dry grasses;
• "Limbing up" trees that are within 100 feet of a structure;
• Removal of trees for fire protection as recommended by the Woodside Fire Protection District.

The following three home hardening projects are also eligible for reimbursement under the program:

• Replacement of an existing wood shake roof with a non-wood shake roof;
• Installation of non-combustible ember-resistant vent screens and/or chimney spark arrestors;
• Installation of an approved seismic gas shut-off device or valve that will shut off gas automatically in an earthquake.

The purpose of the Town's Defensible Space and Home Hardening Matching Fund Program is to encourage Woodside residents to create and maintain defensible space around their homes and the perimeter of their properties and take actions to make their homes more fire resistant through the provision of a matching fund grant to help offset the cost of this undertaking.

For approved projects, the Town will reimburse you 50% of the cost of creating defensible space and/or home hardening, up to a maximum of $3,000.

To apply:

1. Obtain an application and contact Dee Dee Nannini, Prevention Administrative Assistant for the Woodside Fire Protection District at 650-851-1594 or via email to schedule a Defensible Space/Home Hardening Assessment.
2. Bring the completed and signed Application and Assessment to Woodside Town Hall.
3. Town staff will notify you if the application has been approved.
4. After receipt of the approved application, you may have the defensible space and/or home hardening work done on your property.
5. Submit a copy of your Defensible Space/Home Hardening Assessment to Town Hall indicating which items have been completed. Include copies of paid invoices for the work.
6. The Town will reimburse you for 50% of the accomplished work, up to a total of $3,000.

If you have questions about the Program, please email Melissa Cardinale or call 650-851-6790.

Defensible Space and Home Hardening Application and Assessment Form

Defensible Space and Home Hardening Matching Fund Program Information