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Defensible Space Tree Removal in Pollock Pines

Need trees cleared back from the house? Call (530) 454-8845. We'll match you with a tree company who does fire-safety work and book a walk-through.

You don't have to cut everything. You do have to know what to cut. This page walks through it, step by step.

Call (530) 454-8845or use the short estimate form

The subject of this page is defensible space clearing in Pollock Pines. Next, a tree removal company in Pollock Pines comes out to size up defensible space clearing.

What to expect with defensible space clearing in Pollock Pines

Start with a phone call about defensible space clearing. A tree removal company then comes to your door for defensible space clearing. A photo helps, so have one ready.

The 100-foot idea around Pollock Pines

The 100 feet around your house is your defensible space. The county Fire Safe Council splits it into 3 zones, each with its own rules for plants and other things that burn.

The goal is simple. Keep fire from walking from tree to tree to your roof. Give firefighters a safe place to stand.

Here's the part people get wrong. The Fire Safe Council says good defensible space is about separating plants and other fuel in your yard, not clear cutting. So no, you don't need to cut every tree.

In general, the council says to:

• Limb trees up to at least 6 feet off the ground.
• Remove dead limbs and branches.
• Move bushes away from trees.
• Cut grass to 4 inches or less.
• Keep propane tanks clear for 10 feet, down to bare dirt.

The rules in Pollock Pines

The state puts Pollock Pines in a "very high fire hazard severity zone." That's the top level. The town isn't a city either, so county rules govern your lot.

The county's rule is Ordinance No. 5186. The Fire Safe Council's programs aim to help people meet it, with a focus on the first 100 feet around the home. The council also says its work may not meet every state or county rule. You still own the job. State law (Public Resources Code 4291) and the county ordinance both set rules.

When in doubt, ask your tree company to read your lot against those rules.

When a tree has to go around Pollock Pines

Limbing up and thinning save most trees. A few have to come out:

• A dead or dying tree within the zone.
• A tree that leans toward the house.
• A tree with limbs over the roof that can't be cut back safely.
• A crowded group. Beetles like tight stands, says UC IPM, so thinning helps the rest.

Trees that stay should be healthy and spaced out. Ask the tree removal company which ones to keep.

What the work involves around Pollock Pines

1. The crew you hire walks the zones with you and marks what stays and what goes.
2. Dead and leaning trees come down first.
3. Healthy trees get limbed up.
4. Brush and small trees get cut.
5. Pine needles must leave the roof and the gutters. Often that's your job or a handyman's.
6. Branches get chipped or piled for the chipper.

Bring up your neighbors. If a tree sits on the property line, talk to them first.

Free help from the Fire Safe Council

The El Dorado County Fire Safe Council offers two programs that touch this work.

• Defensible Space Program. Free clearing for veterans, seniors, low-income and disabled homeowners on the Western Slope. It's one free service a year. It can't remove trees bigger than 7 inches across, so big trees are on you.
• Chipping Program. Free chipping for homeowners, twice a year, six hours per visit. Chippers handle material up to 7 inches across. They can't chip piles of pine needles or leaves. Chips stay on your lot. And chipping stops on Red Flag days.

Keep rocks, dirt, wire and lumber out of the piles. Sign up well before you want the work done.

Burning piles

You can burn dry yard debris only outside declared fire season. Get a free online burn permit, and check the burn day line at (530) 621-5897 first. The fire district says piles can't be bigger than four feet by four feet. Scrape a ten-foot ring down to bare dirt around each one. An adult must stay until the pile is completely out.

Honestly, chipping is simpler. Fewer rules, less smoke.

Selling your home

If you sell in a very high or high fire severity zone, California law (AB 38) means the seller has to give the buyer proof that the home meets defensible space rules. The El Dorado County Fire Protection District lists the inspection fee as $205. Thinking about selling? Get the trees done early.

What defensible space tree work costs

Prices depend on how many trees, how big, and how steep your lot is. These are national numbers, not quotes.

Prices above come from This Old House (March 2026) and Fixr (January 2025). They are national numbers, not quotes.

Fixr says that if the acre only has a few trees, it may cost less to pay per tree. If you have many trees to take down, ask about a price for the whole job.

Why call us

• We find tree companies who work in dense timber and on slopes.
• We tell the tree company which trees you want kept.
• You get the price before work starts, and calling is free.
• A second price is just a call away.

Step by step

1. Walk 100 feet out from the house. Note dead, leaning and crowded trees.
2. Check the roof and gutters. Needles and limbs pile up there.
3. Call (530) 454-8845. Tell us what you found.
4. Meet the tree removal company. Walk the zones together.
5. Get a written plan. Which trees go, which get limbed, and who handles cleanup.
6. Book chipping. Line it up with the Fire Safe Council if you qualify.

Have a question on defensible space clearing in Pollock Pines? Phone (530) 454-8845. We book a tree removal company for defensible space clearing at your Pollock Pines place.

More help nearby

See large trees near cabins, beetle-killed trees and burned tree removal. Or see all services.