Grant funds are available for parcels with a structure located within the Novato Fire Protection District. Novato residents can apply for a grant with Novato Fire Protection District. The program offers grants for home hardening and for improving defensible space through vegetation management. These grants have different requirements, guidelines, and reimbursement amounts. Listed below are details to help residents understand the projects that qualify and the amounts that can be reimbursed.  

Each parcel has a maximum payout of  $15,000 of grant dollars from the Measure C Program. Grant applications are submitted through their inspection report online.  If you have already had an inspection of your property, you can view your report here.

Grants are available to Novato Residents without restriction, but the property needs to have received a free Defensible Space and Home Hardening Evaluation within the past year.

Grant funds are awarded as reimbursement towards already completed work only. The completion of work and/or submission of an application does not guarantee that the applicant will receive reimbursement.

**Grants are awarded on a First come first serve for Novato Residents closing on June 15^th at 5 pm or until funds are exhausted.

Application review time is approximately 2-4 weeks from the time the resident has submitted a complete application. If your application is awarded an additional 2-4 weeks may be incurred to receive payment through USPS.

• Applications will be reviewed and awarded in the order in which they were received.
• Please note that your application cannot be processed until it is fully complete with all required documents included.

• Grant income received from Novato Fire Protection District will not receive a 1099 tax form.
  • The resident will not have to submit a W9 with the grant application.

• Novato Fire Grant Program does not require Access and Functional Needs (AFN) requirements.
  • Novato Fire will ask questions regarding AFN within the application, but the information is for data collection only. AFN requirements will not affect eligibility of grant application.
• The homeowner must be present for the full home defensible space assessment to apply for the Novato grant program.

Home Hardening Grant - $2,500 MAX

Item(s) that are grant eligible are designated as existing NON WUI rated product replaced with WUI rated product(s) and are identified in report.

Matching (reimbursement grants are .50 to the $1.00 to the max of $2,500)

• Windows
• Vents < 1/8” screens
• Siding
• Roofs
• Gutters
• Gutter guards
• Replacing wood fences attached to home in Zone 0 Only
• Compromised wood garage doors & doors (item(s) requires preapproval)

**Invoices for projects completed exceeding $500 cannot be paid in cash.

Items that do not qualify for the grant reimbursement:

• Garage door battery backup
• Door Seals
• Weather stripping for garage doors
• Enclosing Soffits
• Replacing decks

Defensible Space Grant (Vegetation Management) $1,000 MAX

Items must be identified in the report.

Matching (reimbursement grants are .50 to the $1.00 to the max of $1,000)

• Trimming trees
• Removing hazardous vegetation
• Improving horizontal & vertical spacing of vegetation
• Installing rock
• Removing Mulch
• Removing complete deck systems and installing hardscape

**Invoices for projects completed exceeding $500 cannot be paid in cash.

Items that do not qualify for the grant reimbursement:

• Buying / renting equipment or tools
• Installing replacement plants
• Installing artificial turf
• Installing mulch in Zone 0 or 1
• Installing gorilla hair mulch

Novato Fire Documentation Requirements

• Invoices/receipts related to work outlined in your last assessment report.
• Proof of Payment – deposited check, bank/credit card statement, Venmo/PayPal invoice, etc.
• Pictures of work completed.
• Signed grant program agreement.

** Invoices must include:

• Applicant’s name
• Address of property
• Contractor or vendor’s name, contact information.
• Date and itemized description of the work completed.
• Tax will be excluded from the total grant amount if non- related items are included in the receipt.
• Invoices paid with more than $500 cash will not be accepted.