Los Trancos County Maintenance District Property Owner Incentives
$5,000.00 is available each calendar year per household on a first come, first served basis until budgeted yearly funding has been depleted. Each property owner may receive 50% reimbursement on approved items and/or work completed.
Mission of the program: The Home Hardening and Defensible Space program should collectively protect the entire community of the LTCMD while developing a fair program that allows every resident to participate.
Incentives for 2020 through 2022:
- Home Access – To include making sure the property address is clearly marked with reflective non-combustible material and visible from the street, making sure local Fire Department and/or emergency responders have proper “KNOX” gate access, making sure driveway is clear of overhanging trees and vegetation is cleared at least 5 feet on each side of the driveway, consideration of creating a turnaround for emergency vehicles and to include having private bridges rated/posted by an engineer.
- Roof Assembly – Reimbursement toward the cost of replacing an existing combustible roof with a rated non-combustible roof.
- Exterior Walls and/or Siding – Reimbursement toward the cost of replacing and/or improving the existing combustible exterior walls and/or siding with a rated non-combustible siding material. To include the installation of rated non-combustible skirting material, double-paned tempered glass windows and skylights and rated non-combustible exterior doors and garage doors.
- Vents/Spark Arrestors – To include the material cost and installation of non-combustible ember-resistant vent screens such as Brand-guard or Vulcan and/or the installation of vent screens that have a minimum size opening of 1/8 of an inch. To also include the installation of chimney spark arrestors with a minimum of ¼” non-combustible mesh screening.
- Attached Structures – Reimbursement toward the material cost and installation of rated non-combustible decking, patio covers, balconies, carports and/or fencing materials that are attached to the house and may act as a wick to bring fire to the building.
- Hazardous Trees/Tree Limbing– Reimbursement for labor to remove or trim trees within the 30 foot zone of the structure. Remove all limbs within 10’ of structures and chimney outlet and overhead electrical facilities. Limb up trees approximately 6’ to 8’ from the ground (smaller trees, limb up 1/3 the height) to prevent fire from reaching tree tops via ladder fuels.*
- Brush/Ladder Fuel Mitigation – Reimbursement for labor to cut back or clear hazardous ladder fuel brush such as French and Scotch broom and coyotebrush as the assessor determines necessary. (Please note that weed whacking of annual grasses, though also required by fire code, is not an included incentive.)*
- Automatic Gas Shut Off Valve – Reimbursement for materials and labor for valve installation that will shut off gas automatically in an earthquake.
Next steps:
Sign me up!: Contact Michael Tamez at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (650) 851-1594 to schedule a property inspection. Michael will email your assessment showing incentives for which you qualify. If you have any questions about incentive details, Michael is happy to answer.
Get pre-approved: Figure out what incentive you would like to take advantage of and get estimates for work and/or supplies. Then contact MIchael Tamez for project pre-approval, including your estimates. If you do the work yourself, you can be reimbursed only for supplies. Plan to complete your project(s) within 90 days of pre-approval to ensure availability of funds for reimbursement. Contact Michael if you need an extension of the 90-day time period.
Request reimbursement: As soon as your project is complete, email Michael Tamez at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request reimbursement. Include all receipts, a description of work being done and pictures if appropriate.
Getting reimbursed: WFPD will issue reimbursement checks quarterly in May/Apr, Jun/Jul, Sept/Oct and Dec/Jan. You will receive 50% of the money you spent up to a max of $5,000 annually. (E.g. spend $3,000, receive $1,500; spend $11,000, receive $5,000, the maximum.)
* Some of the listed items are not recommendations but requirements of the fire code.