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A mulch bed, wood fence gate or stack of firewood can sit close to a house for years without attracting attention. During ember exposure, combustibles nearest the structure become a different kind of vulnerability. Zone 0 is the name California uses for the first five feet where an ember-resistant area matters.
There are two different questions: what can make the space safer, and what is currently required by law. Confusing them can cause unnecessary or poorly timed construction.
The current status matters
As of October 24, 2026, the California Board of Forestry Zone 0 page says the rule package is still under final review with the Office of Administrative Law and the state will update its page when the final regulation is published. Its proposed rule packages list August 2026 emergency-rule materials.
That means this page must not present a proposed text, illustrative summary or tentative effective date as the controlling rule for every existing home. A county or city may have separate current requirements. Before a costly landscaping, fence, window or deck change, read the currently effective official text and ask the local fire/building authority what applies to your parcel.
For a wood fence or gate that meets the house, use the separate wildfire fence-attachment material and permit checklist. It documents a physical ignition pathway without presenting proposed Zone 0 regulatory text as a rule already effective everywhere.
What to look for in the first five feet
| Visible item | Fire-preparation question | Safe next step |
|---|---|---|
| Bark mulch, leaf litter and needles | Could this material ignite next to walls or a deck? | Note location and seek local landscaping guidance |
| Firewood, lumber, stored furniture or bins | Can combustibles be moved to an approved location farther away? | Plan safe relocation before fire weather |
| Attached combustible fence or gate | Does it provide a path for fire to reach the house? | Discuss alternatives and permits with a qualified professional |
| Plants against siding or below windows | Is the vegetation placement consistent with current local fire guidance? | Obtain advice before removal or replacement |
| Under-deck material and debris | Can ignition occur beneath an attachment? | Document, avoid entering unsafe voids, arrange qualified maintenance |
| Roof and gutter debris | Is debris visibly building up where embers could ignite it? | Arrange safe professional roof/gutter cleaning |
CAL FIRE’s defensible-space guidance discusses hardscape, debris, attached fences and stored combustibles. Its recommendations are a reasonable starting point for an observation, not proof that a specific home needs a given retrofit or that the listed item violates effective law.
Separate these responsibilities
Homeowner or renter: document what is safely visible and share it with the responsible owner. Never climb a roof or alter shared property.
Property owner or HOA: review conditions, accessibility, permits, lease obligations, landscaping, drainage and local fire requirements. Accessible exits and service clearances remain essential.
Qualified professional and local authority: interpret current code, construction, structural attachments, drainage effects, and fire-rated product or material requirements. One hazard-control goal must not create another hazard by altering vents, blocking drainage or obstructing exits.
Zone 0 is not a substitute for an evacuation plan. If an evacuation instruction is active, leave promptly rather than clearing vegetation.
Zone Zero observation card
| Side / attachment | Material or concern | Ownership | Official source checked and date | Next qualified action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front | ||||
| Rear | ||||
| Garage/fence | ||||
| Deck/side yard |
Write “needs rule confirmation” when the binding requirement is uncertain. The next action is to verify the Board’s latest rule status and request a local inspection or guidance—not to guess whether a draft provision applies.