California Finalizes Zone 0 Requirements
California Board Approves Final Zone 0 Wildfire Safety Regulations
August 27, 2026
The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection has approved the final draft of the state’s new Zone 0 defensible space regulations, establishing wildfire safety standards for the first five feet surrounding homes and structures in designated high fire hazard areas. The regulations are based on growing research and fire experience showing that this immediate area around a structure is the most vulnerable to ignition from embers during a wildfire.
The new rules are intended to reduce the likelihood of homes catching fire by requiring the removal of combustible materials such as firewood, mulch, wood chips, dead vegetation, and accumulated debris near structures. At the same time, the regulations allow for certain well-maintained landscaping features, including low-growing plants, groundcovers, lawns, succulents, and trees that meet maintenance and clearance requirements.
To give homeowners time to prepare, the regulations will be implemented in phases. Phase 1, to be completed within three years for existing homes, focuses on vegetation management and the removal of combustible materials within five feet of structures, along with regular roof, gutter, and tree maintenance. Phase 2, to be completed within five years, includes additional measures such as creating under-eave safety zones, replacing combustible gates where fences connect to homes, and ensuring that certain sheds, fences, and outbuildings meet noncombustible standards. New construction will be required to comply upon the regulation’s adoption.
The Board emphasized that implementation will prioritize education, outreach, and community assistance rather than penalties, while also allowing local jurisdictions flexibility to adopt alternative approaches that achieve equivalent or greater wildfire protection. The regulations represent a significant step in California’s ongoing efforts to improve home hardening, defensible space, and community wildfire resilience.