Defensible Space Assistance Program (DSAP)

Defensible Space Assistance Program (DSAP) is sponsored by Fire Safe Council of San Diego County and Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County. This program provides defensible space work for homeowners who face physical or economic barriers to completing the work themselves. It includes brush and tree trimming, raking of dead vegetation, pine needle removal, and chipping of removed vegetation.

Defensible Space Assistance Program - Fire Safe Council of San Diego County Defensible Space Assistance Program If you have used this service before, please read this page thoroughly as our program has changed. The Defensible Space Assistance Program (DSAP) program is designed to assist homeowners that want to create defensible space, and are not able to do so because of physical, economic, or other barriers.

For example, low-income homeowners and physically disabled or elderly individuals who are unable to pay a contractor. It is imperative that all homeowners maintain at least 100 feet of defensible space around their homes to aid in protecting themselves and their communities from the devastation of wildfire. Prior to receiving service through DSAP, you must participate in our Home Assessment Program.

Service is provided in our priority area once a year. The property owner must be the individual to apply for the home assessment. Each application will be carefully considered, an application for the Home Assessment Program does not guarantee you service through DSAP.

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.

The Defensible Space Assistance Program is a companion to the area of our Home Assessment Program in the south of the county and thus follows the service area you can see on the map to the right. This program is not available in Fallbrook. FIRST click on the magnifying glass icon on the interactive map and search your address to find out if you are within our service area.

SECOND submit an application to our Home Assessment Program and Defensible Space Assistance Program. After submitting an application, a staff member will contact to schedule your initial home assessment. Typically, we will wait to schedule the initial assessment until there is enough applicants in your general area to fill a full day of work.

THIRD participate in the initial home assessment to learn what improvements can be made to the home’s defensible space and home hardening as well as establish priorities for the defensible space assistance crew on your one day of defensible space work. FOURTH after the initial home assessment you will be contacted once again to schedule your day of defensible space assistance.

Tree trimming from the ground – anything that can be reached with a pole saw Small diameter tree removal Raking leaves and pine needles Chipping material cleared from defensible space – chipped material will be left on site Hazardous tree removal – these are restoration crews doing the defensible space work, not arborists You must be the legal owner of the property Your property must be located within the priority area above.

You must first participate in the Home Assessment Program and have a visit completed by one of our trained staff members.

You must be unable to complete this work due to economic barriers: One-person household: Income <$61,250 (annually) Two-person household: Income <$70,000 (annually) Three-person household: Income <$78,750 Applicants who are both disabled and/or elderly and experiencing financial barriers are prioritized Applicants who have recently received a notice to abate from a fire protection district are prioritized.

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).

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 you were cited by the local fire district but you are not within the 2026 Defensible Space Assistance Program service area? If you are physically and financially unable to fulfill the citation refer to our new Compliance Assistance Program which may be able to help you even if you live in a part of San Diego County not within our 2026 DSAP service area.