Phil’s comment on the last post reminded me that I had wanted to post about these California State efforts, especially the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Adoption of Zone 0. Our friends at Megafire Action track this, so I don’t know the exact current status.
Zone 0
What exactly it means to homeowners is made clear in this What Homeowners Need to Know” by the Sonoma Valley Fire District. They say the rules are not yet finalized, so again, I don’t know.
1. They don’t apply everywhere.
The proposed Zone 0 regulations apply to properties located in:
- State Responsibility Areas (SRA); and
- Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) within Local Responsibility Areas (LRA).
Not sure about your property? Use the State Fire Hazard Severity Zone lookup tool – CLICK HERE
2. The requirements are easy to understand and fairly granular, e.g.
Except for the limited vegetation specifically permitted by the regulations, combustible materials would not be allowed within Zone 0.
Examples include:
- Bark, wood chips, and other combustible mulch
- Fallen leaves, needles, and combustible debris
- Firewood
- Combustible items stored beneath decks, balconies, stairs, or pergolas
- Dead or dying vegetation
- New combustible fences or gates within five feet of the structure
- Combustible outbuildings within Zone 0
Roofs and rain gutters must also be kept clear of leaves, needles, and other combustible debris.
The vegetation section is about as granular as it gets..
Limited vegetation would be permitted in portions of Zone 0 that are outside the required vegetation-free areas.
Allowed vegetation must be well maintained, non-woody, and free of dead or dying material.
Examples include:
- Lawns and low ground covers under 3 inches tall
- Non-woody plants between 3 and 18 inches tall, when planted in areas no larger than 1 square foot and properly spaced
- Potted plants up to 18 inches tall in unaffixed, noncombustible containers no larger than 5 gallons and properly spaced
Plant spacing is based on the height of the tallest plant, with required separation equal to at least 1.5 times the plant’s height.
3. Requirements are phased in.
According to this LA Times article:
Those in favor of more protective standards are now focused on assisting homeowners who are willing to voluntarily meet stricter insurance-backed guidance. Some may do the work for insurance discounts; others may do it for a chance to get insurance in the first place.
Both sides find hope in a provision that allows local governments to adopt alternative versions of Zone Zero, which San Diego and Berkeley have already done and Los Angeles is in the process of doing.
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What I’d like to highlight here is the complexity of the process. Yes it was long, yes it was messy, but they followed through and accomplished something that responds to both concerns of homeowners and those of fire departments and safety concerns. According to Google AI:
California developed its Zone 0 (ember-resistant zone) regulations through a multi-year legislative, executive, and public rulemaking process starting in 2020. [1, 2, 3]Key Legislative and Executive Milestones
- Assembly Bill 3074 (2020): Enacted to direct the
Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to establish specific rules for a 0- to 5-foot ember-resistant zone around structures. [1, 2]
- Zone Zero Regulatory Advisory Committee (2025): Established as a special advisory committee under the Board of Forestry to draft the specific technical requirements. [1]
Public Refinement and Final Approval
Maybe other states could start with the agreement here as a template?