Yuba Foothills Home Hardening Cost Share Program

How it works

This program provides financial support to residents of Yuba County’s five Foothill Fire Districts through partial reimbursement for specific home hardening upgrades. The goal is to reduce the chance that a home ignites from wildfire by upgrading vulnerable building materials and ventilation details.

What the money covers

Eligible work includes: installing 1/8"-1/16" metal mesh on vents or ember/flame-resistant vents; covering chimney and stovepipe outlets with non-combustible screen or spark arrestors; installing metal gutters, corrosion-resistant gutter guards, and drip edge; upgrading the last 5 feet of fencing closest to the house with non-combustible materials such as metal; boxing in eaves with ignition-resistant or non-combustible materials and sealing gaps around rafters; fixing roofing that is loose, missing, or at end of life and filling gaps between roof and sheathing; clearing debris and vegetation from roof, gutters, and within the first five feet of the home; installing weather stripping around and under the garage door; replacing roofing and siding with non-combustible materials; sealing joints and cracks and replacing dry rot in siding; upgrading windows to dual-pane tempered glass; and repairing or replacing window screens.

The program says it does not cover fire retardant gels or sprinkler systems. Some activities may require a building permit, and compliance with applicable state or county building codes and associated fees is the landowner’s responsibility.

Amounts and matching

Reimbursement is 50% of eligible costs, up to $2,000 per residence.

How to apply

Applicants are directed to submit an application and supporting documentation. The guidelines say photos and receipts are required for reimbursement eligibility, and that a follow-up visit may be scheduled to confirm program activities. The program is first come, first served.

Timing and deadlines

The guideline version available online states that work must be performed in 2022 or 2023, with applications due by July 31, 2023. Because the official document on this page is an older guideline PDF, the current funding window should be confirmed with the council before relying on those dates.