California's long-awaited Zone 0 rules, which would require an ember-resistant area within five feet of homes in fire hazard areas, are not in force yet. The Board of Forestry and Fire Protection adopted emergency regulations in August, then withdrew the package from final legal review in September. As of mid-October, no effective date has been set.
How we got here
Zone 0 dates back to AB 3074, signed in 2020, which added a five-foot ember-resistant zone to state defensible space law. After the January 2025 Los Angeles fires, an executive order set a December 31, 2025 deadline to finish the rules. That deadline passed without final regulations.
The Board adopted Zone 0 as an emergency regulation on August 19, 2026, by an 8 to 0 vote, and submitted it to the Office of Administrative Law on August 28. The public comment window closed September 2. On September 8, the package was listed as withdrawn.
Why it was withdrawn
According to information the Board later shared, the withdrawal is procedural, to allow technical edits before resubmitting. MySafe:LA, a Los Angeles fire safety nonprofit, wrote that "this does not mean Zone 0 has been abandoned or rejected." The Board has indicated another public comment period is likely, but no resubmission date has been announced. The Board's project page says staff continue to work with the Office of Administrative Law on a final review.
What the draft would require
The August package would apply throughout State Responsibility Areas and to occupied structures in locally designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Within five feet of the home, attached deck, stairs or pergola, it would:
- Require removing combustible mulch, wood chips, leaves, needles and bark
- Require clean roofs and gutters
- Prohibit storing firewood
- Require clearing vegetation and combustible items under decks, balconies and stairs
- Prohibit new combustible fencing, and require a noncombustible break where existing fencing attaches to the home
- Allow small outbuildings only if they are entirely noncombustible
- Allow limited, well-maintained nonwoody plants that meet height and spacing standards
Requirements already in prior law, like clean roofs and gutters and clearing dead branches, would apply when the rules take effect. The rest would phase in over three to five years for existing homes. Cities can adopt local alternatives by ordinance if they provide substantially similar protection. The City of San Diego has already set its own Zone 0 schedule.
The state estimated average compliance costs of about $960 per home. MySafe:LA has argued the real cost could exceed $2,500 for many properties.
What this means for your home
The rules are not final, but the science behind them is settled: embers ignite homes, and the first five feet is where they land. Waiting for a deadline is not a fire plan.
- Start with the free fixes. Clear leaves, needles and mulch from against the house, and keep gutters clean. Our Zone 0 guide has a full checklist.
- Look at your fence. Wood fencing that touches the house can carry fire straight to it.
- Harden the openings. Vents, eaves and windows are how embers get inside. Ember-resistant vents and window laminates close those gaps.
- Think in layers. Zone 0 works with home hardening, not instead of it. Our guide to defensible space zones explains how Zones 0, 1 and 2 fit together.
- Get credit for it. Many of these same steps count toward insurance mitigation discounts under Safer from Wildfires.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zone 0 law in California right now?
Not statewide. The Board of Forestry adopted emergency Zone 0 regulations in August 2026 but withdrew them from final review on September 8 to make technical edits. Zone 1 and Zone 2 defensible space rules remain in effect.
When will I have to comply with Zone 0?
No statewide compliance clock has started. Once the rules take effect, the draft phases in most requirements for existing homes over three to five years. Some cities, including San Diego, have their own schedules.
Will Zone 0 make me remove my plants?
The draft allows limited, maintained nonwoody plants within five feet if they meet height, spacing and container standards. It focuses on removing combustible mulch, debris and materials that embers can ignite.
Sources
- California Board of Forestry adopts emergency Zone 0 regulations under AB 3074, Best Best & Krieger (Sept. 9, 2026)
- Zone 0 regulations withdrawn from OAL review: what happens next?, Wildfire Los Angeles / MySafe:LA (Sept. 11, 2026)
- Is Zone Zero law yet?, CA Defensible Space
- Zone 0 in California: rules and status, FlyCRE (Oct. 13, 2026)
This article is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Your carrier sets final pricing and eligibility.
