Overview
- The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection voted unanimously to adopt the Zone Zero landscaping rule on Aug. 19, 2026, targeting the first five feet around structures in high fire-hazard areas.
- The regulation bans plants within a one-foot safety band next to walls, bars combustible materials like firewood and mulch from the full five-foot zone, and sets rules for sheds, fences, potted plants, and tree trimming.
- Zone Zero applies to properties in State Responsibility Areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and is estimated to affect roughly 1.75–2 million homes with immediate requirements for new construction and phased compliance for existing homes.
- Enforcement will be carried out by Cal Fire in state responsibility areas and by local fire agencies in local zones with inspections, orders to comply, or penalties and an option for local alternative practices that achieve similar protections.
- The board said the rule is grounded in research showing clearing near-structure fuels and home hardening raises survival odds in major fires, while homeowner groups and local officials warn of significant costs and are pressing for state or local funding and assistance as the Office of Administrative Law completes the final review.