With the start of fire season on the horizon, the Kern County Fire Department is reminding property owners that the deadline to clear property and create defensible space is fast approaching. 

According to a notice from KCFD, "all Kern County property owners whose properties are located within State Responsibility Areas (SRA) are required to perform fire hazard reduction clearance on all property they own by June 1 of every year."

Inspections will begin June 2 and the notice states that failure to meet the requirements could results in a $500 fine. 

If a property owner is fined, they will be given 15 days to either dispute or show proof that the violation has been corrected. 

After 15 days, if the area isn't cleared, the property owner could face an additional $1,000 fine. 

To check to see if your home falls within the SRA, visit Cal Fire's webiste.