The basic facts:
In 2020, California enacted Assembly Bill 3074, mandating the creation of an “ember-resistant zone”—referred to as “Zone 0”—within five feet of structures in designated high fire hazard areas. This initiative aims to reduce the risk of homes igniting from wind-driven embers during wildfires, a leading cause of structural fires.
Despite the law’s passage, implementation has faced delays. Originally set to take effect in 2023, the regulations have not been finalized, leaving fire control districts, municipalities, builders, and homeowners uncertain about compliance requirements.
In response, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-18-25 in February 2025, directing the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to expedite the adoption of Zone 0 regulations. The goal is to have these regulations in place by the end of 2025.
Key Aspects of Zone 0:
Scope: Zone 0 encompasses the area within five feet of a structure, including attached decks and stairs.
Requirements: The regulations will likely prohibit combustible materials such as wooden fences, mulch, and flammable vegetation within this zone. Exceptions may include certain non-combustible items and well-maintained mature trees.
Applicability: Once finalized, the rules will apply immediately to new constructions - and permitted improvements - in State Responsibility Areas and Local Responsibility Areas with Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone ratings. Existing structures will have three years to achieve compliance.
Stakeholders:
Developing Zone 0 regulations involves collaboration among stakeholders, including CAL FIRE, the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, local governments, local fire agencies, insurance companies, electricity generators, and government/industry funded nonprofits. This collaborative approach is supposed to ensure that the regulations are practical and consider the diverse needs of California’s communities. What’s missing from this list? Homeowners!
Addressing Concerns:
Many homeowners have expressed concerns about the potential costs and quality of life impacts of complying with Zone 0 requirements. To address these concerns, community members here and elsewhere are asking to have their concerns taken seriously.
Our Take: (Zone Zero-Conejo Valley)
A one-size-fits-all approach fails to recognize the vast differences between homes in rural environments and the relatively small lots found in suburban communities. The new risk mitigation regulations should reflect these differences.
The Board of Forestry wants homeowners and communities to accept the Zone 0 regulations as a necessary sacrifice. They are minimizing the harms, ignoring scientific input that interferes with their views, and hoping to push these regulations through before the public catches on.
We are questioning the science behind the mandated removal of well irrigated, high moisture plants from Zone 0. Videos circulated by CAL FIRE and insurance companies are staged using very low moisture vegetation, creating the impression that well irrigated plants are a major reason for ember ignited house fires. It appears that millions of Southern California homes will be forced to make expensive, potentially harmful modifications to their properties if these regulatons are adopted.
Moving Forward:
Implementation of Zone 0 regulations can be an important step toward enhancing community fire resilience. Homeowners will cooperate if they are included in a process that has good science behind the mandates and flexibility in implementation that takes finances, protection of the environment, enjoyment, and reasonable use of property into account.
Explore this website for more information about common sense approaches to managing fire risk in the WUI.