Does OCFA conduct inspections in any city in Orange County?
No. Fullerton, Brea, Anaheim, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Orange are outside of OCFA jurisdiction. Contact the city’s fire department directly to schedule an inspection.
If your property is located outside of Orange County, visit the
CAL FIRE Defensible Space Webpage
to request an inspection.
Is there a cost for the inspection?
There is no cost for the inspection.
Is there a local ordinance that requires a defensible space inspection?
Yes. The
OCFA Vegetation Management Guidelines
are used in FHSZ's that fall under defensible space disclosure requirements.
Does the inspection need to take place prior to the close of escrow?
No. The seller can defer inspection to buyer; inspection needs to take place within 1 year of sale.
Who can request the inspection?
The property owner or the selling agent. The buyer or the buyer’s agent may also request the inspection but will need the current property owner’s permission to conduct the inspection.
When should the inspection be scheduled?
When the home is listed to be sold.
What does the inspection entail?
The inspection will be of the exterior of the property only. Please refer to
OCFA Vegetation Management Guidelines
for specifics. Transactions involving lots with no structures do not require defensible space inspections.
How long will the inspection take?
Approximately 30 minutes.
Does someone need to be present for the inspection?
Yes. Someone with a legal right to be on the property needs to meet the inspector, even if the property is vacant. This is usually the property owner, selling agent, or renter/tenant.
Will an inspection certificate be issued of inspection results?
If the property is compliant, a compliance form will be emailed to the inspection contact. If the property is not compliant, the inspector will issue a hand written notice which will detail the work that needs to be done to make the property compliant. The compliance form will be issued when the home is compliant.
How long is the compliance documentation valid for?
6 months from the inspection date.
Is an inspection required in a community where the vegetation management is mostly the HOA's responsibility?
Yes. The inspector will consider the HOA responsibility areas during the inspection.
Does the inspector fill out or sign the disclosure?
No, that is a real estate form and OCFA does not assist with this form.
Is an inspection required if the property is not in the pink mapped area on the OCFA Property Locator, but an NHD report indicates the property is in a fire zone?
No. The NHD company may be using a different map that contains fire zones of a lower severity. The OCFA Property Locator includes those fire zones where OCFA is required to conduct inspections for Defensible Space Disclosures as requested.
What if the property recently had an inspection?
If the property has been inspected within the last 6 months documentation will be emailed to the inspection requestor.