Novato Core Direct Assistance and Novato Hazardous Vegetation Removal Programs
Summary
SCH Number
2026090835
Public Agency
Novato Fire Protection District
(NFD)
Document Title
Novato Core Direct Assistance and Novato Hazardous Vegetation Removal Programs
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/18/2026
Document Description
The proposed projects would remove hazardous accumulated ground, ladder fuels, and hazard trees within up to 200 feet of structures in the Novato Zone to enhance defensible space and reduce flammable vegetation and trees. The purposes of the proposed projects are as follows:
• provide direct assistance to homeowners in the Novato Zone to enhance defensible space and existing adjacent fuel reduction projects to increase wildfire resiliency across the communities under the Novato Core Direct Assistance Program; and
• provide direct assistance to homeowners to provide targeted removal of invasive and introduced trees and plants that pose a wildfire hazard or could impede emergency evacuation, under the Novato Hazardous Vegetation Removal Project.
Contact Information
Name
Lynne Osgood
Agency Name
Novato Fire District
Job Title
Battalion Chief of Prevention
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Address
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Novato
Counties
Marin
Regions
Citywide, San Francisco Bay Area
Other Location Info
Within 200 feet from structures within the Novato Fire Protection District jurisdiction.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Public Resources Code (PRC) sections 21080.49(c) and 21080.49(d)
Reasons for Exemption
The project is statutorily exempt under Public Resources Code (PRC) sections 21080.49(c) and 21080.49(d). A project exempt in accordance with PRC section 21080.49(c) involves establishment or enhancement of residential home hardening or defensible space for wildfire risk reduction within 200 feet of a legal structure located in a high or very high wildfire hazard zone, and under section 21080.49(d), consists of a fuel break that extends up to 200 feet from structures, including the clearance of flammable vegetation and trees less than 12 inches in diameter as measured at chest height. The proposed projects would remove hazardous accumulated ground, ladder fuels, and hazard trees within up to 200 feet of structures in the Novato Zone to enhance defensible space and reduce flammable vegetation and trees. Over half of the Novato Zone is in high or very high fire hazard severity zones. The treatments under the proposed projects could occur in targeted locations on an as-needed basis with local private landowners throughout the Novato Zone, which is consistent with enhanced defensible space and fuel breaks that extend up to 200 feet from structures.
County Clerk
Marin
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.