Home ReadySonoma

Clean gutters before the storms: a Sonoma County guide

The leaves that clog a gutter in a winter storm are the same leaves that can burn in a fire. One cleanup helps with both.

As of October 20, 2026. This is general information from Fire Safe Marin and a Wildfire Strong fact sheet, not a code ruling for your house. Rules and products change, so confirm with your local fire authority and your insurer before you spend money.

The short answer

Clear the roof, the gutters and the downspouts before the first big rain. Do it again after the leaves come down.

Fire Safe Marin says gutters should be kept completely free of leaves, needles and vegetation during fire season, and that "even a tiny handful of leaves is enough to burn your home." It also says to clean them regularly whatever they are made of.

In a storm, the same debris blocks the water. For where the water should go once it leaves the gutter, see our winter storm checklist.

Dry oak leaves piled beside a skylight and along the roof edge
Dry leaves collect beside skylights, vents and along the edge of a roof.

Five spots to check

Side view of a roof edge with five numbered spots: 1 leaves on the roof, 2 leaves in the gutter, 3 debris on top of a gutter guard, 4 metal flashing at the roof edge, 5 the downspout.
  1. Roof: leaves next to skylights, vents, chimneys and in valleys
  2. Gutter: leaves, needles and twigs
  3. Guard: debris sitting on top of it or behind it
  4. Roof edge: metal flashing between the gutter and the roof
  5. Downspout: open from top to bottom
Not to scale. Spots from the Fire Safe Marin and Wildfire Strong guides.
  • Gutters. Fire Safe Marin says to clean out debris on a regular basis, and to clean more often if leaves fall on your roof.
  • Guards. The Wildfire Strong fact sheet says metal mesh or metal hood guards can reduce debris, but they may not stop all of it. Remove debris sitting on top and check the guard has not come loose. Fire Safe Marin adds that some products let debris collect on the roof behind the gutter, and that no standard test exists yet for how well they work.
  • Foam inserts. Fire Safe Marin strongly discourages foam gutter guard inserts, even when they are sold as fire resistant. In its informal testing they ignited easily and spread fire quickly.
  • Roof edge. Fire Safe Marin says missing or inadequate flashing between the gutter and the roofline makes it easier for fire to get into the house. Metal flashing at the roof edge is a recommended detail.
  • Downspouts. A clear gutter only helps if the downspout is open and sends water away from the house. Our winter storm checklist has the details, sourced to the DOE Building America Solution Center.

What your gutters are made of

Fire Safe Marin says metal gutters have been recommended over plastic in fire hazard areas. If you have vinyl gutters, it says a low-flammability zone next to the house is critical, such as noncombustible rock mulch. The Wildfire Strong fact sheet recommends gutters and downspouts of galvanized steel, copper or aluminum.

Replacing gutters is a project to price, not a weekend job. Start with cleaning, then decide.

Is it a rule?

Part of it is. In areas where California's 100-foot defensible space law applies, our sister site Zone Zero Guidelines lists keeping the roof clear of leaves and needles as already law. (Sources it cites: Public Resources Code 4291 and Government Code 51182.) Which rule covers your address depends on where you live. See who checks what in Sonoma County.

Insurers and the IBHS checklist ask for more than the law does. See our Wildfire Prepared Home checklist guide.

Who this applies to

Every home with a roof and trees nearby, in town or on a ridge. It matters most if oaks, bays or pines drop leaves and needles on the roof, or if a neighbor's trees overhang it.

Do this week

  1. Look at the roof from the ground first. Note where leaves pile up: skylights, valleys, behind vents and chimneys.
  2. Clear the roof and gutters. Bag the debris, and keep it out of the first 5 feet around the house.
  3. If you have gutter guards, lift or check them. Clear what sits on top and behind them. Replace any foam inserts.
  4. Run water down each downspout. It should come out freely at the bottom.
  5. Look at the roof edge for gaps between the gutter and the roof. Note them for a roofer.
  6. Plan a second cleanup after the leaves drop.

Ladder safety. Fire Safe Marin says to use a sturdy, well-footed ladder with someone on the ground, and to hire a professional if you are unsure or lack the tools. We are not a licensed contractor. Licensed work is done by licensed contractors you hire directly.

Related

Sources