Overview

• The ordinance covers roughly 2,000 homes in the Berkeley Hills, including neighborhoods along Grizzly Peak Ridge and around Panoramic Hill.
• The EMBER plan prohibits in-ground vegetation, climbing vines, combustible mulch and wooden fences within five feet of any structure.
• Grants will be available for residents aged 65 and older and those below median income to fund required clearance work.
• City officials emphasize inspections will focus on homeowner education with citations issued only when properties pose a neighborhood-wide fire risk.
• The Alliance for Practical Fire Solutions has signaled a legal challenge, citing concerns over affordability for fixed-income households and doubts about the rule’s effectiveness.