Updated August 28, 2026
California is moving forward with the nation’s first statewide Zone 0 defensible space regulations, creating new wildfire-safety standards for the first five feet around covered homes and structures.
On August 19, 2026, the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection approved the final draft of the rules. The regulation must still complete review by the California Office of Administrative Law and be filed with the Secretary of State before it becomes effective.
For San Diego rental property owners, now is the right time to determine whether a property is covered, document current conditions, and begin with the simple maintenance items that reduce wildfire risk immediately.
Key Takeaways for San Diego Property Owners
Zone 0 is the first five feet around a covered home or structure.
The rules apply in State Responsibility Areas and in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within Local Responsibility Areas—not to every property in California.
New construction must comply when the regulation becomes effective.
Existing properties receive a two-phase rollout lasting up to five years.
Combustible materials such as bark mulch, wood chips, firewood, dead vegetation, leaves, and debris must be removed from Zone 0 under the approved standards.
Existing trees and certain small plants may remain if they meet maintenance, clearance, spacing, and location requirements.
Fences, gates, sheds, and landscaping near a structure may require modification.
Local agencies may approve alternative standards that provide substantially similar wildfire protection, and they may adopt stricter requirements.
_2.webp)
What Is Zone 0 Defensible Space?
Zone 0 is the area extending from a structure to five feet outward. It is also called the ember-resistant zone because wind-driven embers can collect against walls, below eaves, on roofs, in gutters, and around other vulnerable parts of a building.
Those embers can ignite nearby mulch, leaves, firewood, plants, or wooden fencing. Once burning, those materials can expose the structure to flames and concentrated heat. The goal of Zone 0 is to interrupt that path before fire reaches the building.
Zone 0 supplements California’s existing defensible space zones:
Zone 0: 0 to 5 feet from the structure
Zone 1: 5 to 30 feet from the structure
Zone 2: 30 to 100 feet from the structure, or to the property line
Does Zone 0 Apply to Your San Diego Property?
The approved rules apply to properties located in either of the following:
A State Responsibility Area (SRA); or
A Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone within a Local Responsibility Area (LRA).
This means a San Diego address is not automatically covered simply because it is near a canyon, hillside, or open space. Owners should verify the property’s official designation and confirm any locally adopted map or standard with the appropriate fire authority.
Use the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone map and address viewer as a starting point. For properties in a Local Responsibility Area, CAL FIRE also recommends contacting the local jurisdiction for address-specific information.
What Will California’s Zone 0 Rules Require?
The approved framework divides the first five feet into two related areas: a low-combustibility area throughout Zone 0 and a smaller noncombustible safety zone next to the structure.
1. Remove Combustible Materials From the First Five Feet
Under the approved standards, property owners will need to remove combustible items such as:
Bark mulch, wood chips, and other combustible ground cover
Firewood, lumber, and stored wood
Fallen leaves, needles, dead branches, and other debris
Dead or dying plants
Combustible debris on roofs and in rain gutters
Regular cleanup will matter. A property that was compliant after landscaping work may fall out of compliance as leaves, branches, or tenant belongings accumulate.
2. Create a Noncombustible Safety Zone Near Vulnerable Openings
During the second phase, covered properties must establish a vegetation-free and noncombustible safety zone:
At least one foot from the structure, or out to the edge of the eave or drip line, whichever is farther
Two feet from windows, doors, and vents
Five feet from attached decks, stairs, pergolas, and similar attached features
This may require replacing combustible mulch with gravel, stone, pavers, concrete, or another approved noncombustible surface.
3. Plants and Trees Are Allowed—With Conditions
Zone 0 does not require every property to become a bare strip of concrete.
Outside the immediate safety buffers, the approved rules allow certain well-maintained, nonwoody plants, flowers, low ground covers, lawns, and movable plants in noncombustible pots. They must meet applicable limits for height, spacing, and maintenance.
Existing trees may remain, but they must be maintained. Requirements include removing dead wood and lower “ladder fuel” branches, keeping branches away from eaves, maintaining five feet of clearance above roofs, and maintaining ten feet of clearance from chimneys. The approved draft does not permit new trees to be planted within Zone 0 once the regulation is effective.
Local inspectors will play an important role in evaluating individual trees, vegetation, building design, and site conditions.
4. Fences, Gates, Sheds, and Outbuildings May Need Changes
The approved rules require a five-foot noncombustible section where a fence connects to a home. For many properties, this could mean replacing a wooden gate or the first section of fencing with metal or another compliant material.
The standards also prohibit new combustible fences or gates within Zone 0, although repairs to existing fencing are allowed. Sheds and outbuildings located within Zone 0 must have noncombustible exterior walls and roofs.
These items deserve early attention because they may require planning, contractor pricing, and coordination with an HOA or neighboring property owner.
When Do the Zone 0 Requirements Take Effect?
The Board-approved rules use a phased approach:
Property or phase | Timing after the regulation becomes effective | Main requirements |
|---|---|---|
New construction | Upon the regulation’s effective date | Full Zone 0 compliance |
Existing property—Phase 1 | Within the first three years | Remove combustible materials, dead vegetation, and debris; maintain allowable vegetation and trees |
Existing property—Phase 2 | By a locally assigned deadline within five years | Complete the under-eave safety zone and required changes to gates, fences, sheds, and similar features |
Some roof, gutter, deadwood, and tree-clearance duties are intended to apply when the regulation becomes effective because they align with existing California requirements.
The phase-in is designed to emphasize education, measurable progress, and practical compliance. It should not be treated as a reason to delay inexpensive risk-reduction work that can be completed now.
A Practical Zone 0 Action Plan for Rental Property Owners
San Diego landlords can prepare without overcorrecting or removing healthy landscaping unnecessarily.
Step 1: Confirm Whether the Property Is Covered
Check the official hazard map, then confirm the designation and applicable local requirements with the fire authority having jurisdiction.
Step 2: Document Current Conditions
Photograph all sides of the structure, including eaves, vents, windows, roof edges, gutters, decks, gates, fences, sheds, landscaping, mulch, and stored materials. Date the photos and keep them with the property’s maintenance records.
Step 3: Complete the Low-Cost Work First
Remove dead vegetation, leaves, gutter debris, wood piles, cardboard, and other combustibles next to the building. Trim obvious ladder fuels and correct current chimney and roof clearances using a qualified contractor when needed.
Step 4: Budget for Capital Changes
Identify wooden gates or fences attached to the building, combustible sheds within five feet, and landscaping below wide eaves. Obtain pricing early and group related work when practical.
Step 5: Coordinate With Tenants, Vendors, HOAs, and Neighbors
Tenant landscaping responsibilities do not eliminate the need for owner oversight. Give clear written instructions, document access and maintenance, and use qualified vendors for tree work or building modifications. Review HOA requirements and property-line issues before changing shared fences.
Step 6: Reinspect and Keep Records
Zone 0 is an ongoing maintenance obligation, not a one-time project. Add it to recurring property inspections and retain before-and-after photos, invoices, arborist recommendations, inspection reports, and tenant communications.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zone 0
Are California’s Zone 0 rules already in effect?
Not yet as of August 28, 2026. The Board approved the final draft on August 19, but the package must still be reviewed by the Office of Administrative Law and filed with the Secretary of State. Owners should watch for the official effective date.
Do the rules apply to every California property?
No. They apply in State Responsibility Areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within Local Responsibility Areas. Verify each property individually.
Must all plants and trees be removed from the first five feet?
No. Existing trees and certain well-maintained plants may remain if they satisfy the approved location, spacing, clearance, and maintenance standards. The immediate safety buffers are more restrictive.
Do the rules apply to rental properties?
Yes, when the property is in a covered area. Rental owners should treat Zone 0 as an owner-level safety and compliance issue and coordinate responsibilities with tenants and vendors in writing.
Can a city or fire agency change the standards?
Local jurisdictions may adopt qualifying alternatives that provide substantially similar wildfire protection, and they may impose stricter standards. Always check the rules that apply to the specific address.
Protecting Your San Diego Rental Property Starts With a Plan
Zone 0 is intended to reduce the chance that embers will turn ordinary landscaping or stored materials into a direct ignition source. For rental property owners, early preparation can also make budgeting, tenant coordination, vendor scheduling, and documentation much easier.
Harland Property Management helps San Diego owners oversee inspections, recurring maintenance, vendor coordination, and the operational details that protect rental properties. We also provide dedicated multifamily property management throughout San Diego County.
Contact Harland Property Management to discuss how we can help protect and manage your investment property.
This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal, insurance, fire-safety, or code-compliance advice. Regulations, maps, local standards, and effective dates may change. Confirm current requirements with the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, CAL FIRE, the local fire authority, and qualified professionals for your property.
