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Do I have to replace my siding?
Not for the state draft, and not for the discount lists, which ask only for the bottom 6 inches of the walls. IBHS Enhanced does ask for noncombustible siding. Fiber cement is on its list.
The state Zone 0 rule is not law yet. Insurers and IBHS already use their own lists.
What to check
Keep your siding if it is in good shape. Fix damaged boards.
Do the bottom 6 inches first. Every list asks for that.
If you replace siding, choose from the IBHS Enhanced list.
Ask your insurer before you replace siding for insurance reasons.
What each list says
The lists do not always agree. Here is what each one says about this.
- IBHS Essential
Only the bottom 6 inches of the walls must be noncombustible.
- IBHS Enhanced
All exterior wall covering is noncombustible: metal, fiber cement, masonry veneer, stucco, brick or concrete. Shutters too. Wood siding is not permitted, even with ignition-resistant treatments or coatings (section 3.1.4).
- State discount list and FAIR Plan
Only the bottom 6 inches of the walls.
- San Diego
Does not require retrofits to existing homes. When you replace siding, use noncombustible, ignition-resistant or State Fire Marshal approved products.
- State draft
The August 2026 draft, as we read it, sets no standard for this.
- Our note: Hardie board is a brand of fiber cement.
Sources
- IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Technical Standard (2025 edition)
- Safer from Wildfires regulation: frequently asked questions, California Department of Insurance, September 2026
- Zone 0 guidelines for existing structures, City of San Diego, April 2026