Home / What insurers look for / The IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home designation
What is the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home designation?
It is a home hardening certificate from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. Many insurers recognize it. Discounts vary by insurer and are not guaranteed.
The state Zone 0 rule is not law yet. Insurers and IBHS already use their own lists.
What to check
Ask your insurer whether it recognizes the designation and what it is worth to you.
Read the standard for the level you want.
Walk your house against the pages here.
Finish the work first, then apply.
The basics
- Two levels
Essential focuses on embers. Enhanced includes everything in Essential and adds protection from flames and radiant heat. The 2025 standard calls them Base and Plus. IBHS says the names are changing and the requirements are not.
- Who can apply
The homeowner, for a single-family detached home of up to three stories in California or Oregon. The home must also meet state and local wildland-urban interface codes. The standard says townhomes and multifamily buildings are not eligible. The standard and the IBHS FAQ differ on manufactured homes, so check with IBHS.
- All or nothing
You choose a level and complete every required action. Partial work does not qualify.
- Cost and steps
A $125 nonrefundable application fee, plus the cost of the work. You send photos, then an in-person evaluation follows. The certificate lasts three years, with an annual review.
- Insurers
IBHS member insurers can look up an address to see if it has a designation. IBHS says many insurers recognize it.
- The standard also has rules for the area from 5 to 30 feet out. These pages cover the house and the first 5 feet.
Want the IBHS list in plain steps? Home Ready Sonoma has a Wildfire Prepared Home checklist.
Sources
- IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Technical Standard (2025 edition)
- Wildfire Prepared Home: frequently asked questions, IBHS