Zone 0 Update: The Board Re-Adopted the Rules on November 5. Here's Where Things Stand.
Zone 0 is the ember-resistant zone: the first five feet around your home. I've written about it before. Here's the latest.
Where Things Stand
On November 5, 2026, the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection adopted revised emergency Zone 0 regulations. As of this writing, they have not taken effect yet. They still have to go through state review before they become enforceable. Check CAL FIRE or your local fire department for the official effective date.
Who It Applies To
The rules apply to homes in the State Responsibility Area, and to homes in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas. New construction must comply when the rules take effect. Existing homes get a phase-in period of roughly three to five years for most items.
What the First Five Feet Will Look Like
- No bark or wood-chip mulch. Gravel and pavers work.
- No firewood stacked within five feet.
- Fences and gates attached to the house must be noncombustible.
- Roofs and gutters kept clear of leaves and needles.
- Limits on plants close to walls, windows, vents and decks.
What You Need to Know
You don't have to wait for the final rule to start. Most of Zone 0 is just good ember defense, and almost all of it is free: rake, sweep, move, and clear. Then have your equipment ready for the ember that gets through anyway.
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It's insanity not to be prepared. Please like and share this. It helps neighborhoods be safe.
Sherwin Ross is the founder of Ace Fire Defense, based in West Hills, CA. After the 2018 Woolsey Fire, he became CERT-trained and started building wildfire defense equipment for homeowners.