Defensible Space Cost Share Program

Cost Share FAQ

Napa Communities Firewise Foundation (Napa Firewise), through grants from CalFire and the California Fire Safe Council, is providing financial assistance to residents of Napa County to prepare the property around their homes to better withstand wildfires. We have limited funding available, so please apply as soon as possible.

• Who is eligible?
  • Residents of Napa County living whose property is in or within 1 mile of the High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones under either the 2007 or the 2022 maps
• Why does it apply only to properties in or close to the High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones
  • Because those properties are at the greatest risk from wildfire, and reducing the risk to them, also reduces the risk to the surrounding community
• What is the process to apply?
  • Complete and submit the Self-Assessment Survey
  • Once submitted, if you qualify, you will be contacted to schedule a complimentary professional assessment of your property
  • Within a day or 2 after your assessment takes place you will receive an email with instructions to log into the Defensible Space Grant portal where you will find your report with prioritized recommendations for making your property safer from wildfire (check your spam folder a couple of days after the assessment, if you don’t see the email from Fire Aside, the software company who is hosting the portal)
  • After reviewing your report, click on the Grants tab (at the top of the page) to select which recommendations you would like to do to improve your property, and click the ”Submit” button to submit your application for reimbursement funding
  • Increase your chances of selection by getting your neighbors to apply with you on a joint project
  • The NCFF team will review all Applications and choose the ones that we think will be the most beneficial for the safety of Napa County
• Can I get reimbursed for work I’ve already done?
  • No, this grant reimburses only for work that you pay to have done
• What is the maximum reimbursement?
  • Up to $3,500. The reimbursement provided by Napa Firewise is 50% of the qualifying invoices submitted by the resident up to a maximum of $3500. (If resident participated in this program earlier, resident may participate now and be reimbursed for invoices for new work up to a maximum of the difference between $3,500 and the amount resident received previously.)
• What proof do I need to submit to get reimbursed?
  • Receipts for work conducted by a qualified contractor and photos showing the completed work will be required for reimbursement.
• How quickly will I get reimbursed?
  • As soon as we get your documentation and have an opportunity to verify the work, we will begin to process your reimbursement payment. However, because this is funded by a grant, there is often a lag time between our approval of the payment and the availability of funds to actually issue the check.
• Will all applications be funded?
  • No, we do not have sufficient grant money to fund all applications that we anticipate, we will select projects based on objective criteria and ranking
• How do you determine which applications to fund?
  • Applications will be evaluated based on criteria including your location’s Fire Hazard Risk Zone, the type and density of surrounding vegetation, proximity to a High or Very High Fire Hazard Risk Zone, and income, age, or disability status.  
• Is there anything I can do to increase my chances of getting funded?
  • Apply with your neighbors or encourage them to apply; we will give priority to otherwise eligible projects that cover multiple properties or a single neighborhood

For more information, resources, and maps, see our Defensible Space Guide and the Wildfire Fuels Mapper website.

Support Our Efforts

All our work is funded by grants and/or public contributions. We need your help to make Napa County as safe as possible from wildfires and save lives.

Our Programs

Napa Firewise has many active programs available to those residing in Napa County. These projects are designed to mitigate wildfires in Napa County and many include grant funding to help residents make their homes safer.

For a look at the implementation of projects, view our calendar.