Program Criteria

  1. Properties must be located within the boundaries of the Moraga Orinda Fire Protection District (MOFD)

  2. There must be a minimum of five (5) participating residential properties

  3. Participants pay their half of the project cost directly to the contractor and provide a copy of the invoice and payment method to FSMO

  4. Grant recipients must pledge to maintain the properties five years

MOFD Exterior Wildfire Hazard Abatement Requirements

Our goal is to bring properties into compliance with the MOFD Fire Code

You can read the MOFD Wildfire Hazard Abatement Requirements here.

Examples of qualifying issues:

  • Removal of dead or dying trees and shrubs

  • Juniper, Italian Cypress, bamboo, coyote brush, and broom removal

  • Limbing up trees and creating roof and roadside clearance

  • Removing deadwood from trees

  • Brush clearing

What does NOT qualify:

  • Annual grass cutting

  • Vegetation removal for aesthetic reasons

  • Stump grinding

  • Junk removal

Contractors and Estimates

FSMO sources bids from local, licensed and insured contractors. We work to get the best rates by fielding competitive bids from at least three companies.

Payment

FSMO's Group Grant Program is NOT a reimbursement to homeowners. FSMO pays the contractor directly for half of the cost of the project up to $10,000. The homeowner pays the contractor the other half.

Can a homeowner have additional work done, that is not covered by the grant program requirements?

Yes, however, that portion of the work needs to be invoiced and paid for separately. FSMO has strict accounting rules it needs to follow to qualify for reimbursement from the grantor, so those two costs must remain separate