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Zone Zero Watch
Dated news on California's Zone 0 rule and the insurance rules that go with it. Newest first. Last checked October 11, 2026.
Zone Zero Watch tells you what changed. To see what the rule asks of your home, read the requirements or check an item.
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Still no statewide Zone 0 rule
As of October 10, 2026, the state's list of emergency rules under review has nothing from the Board of Forestry. The statewide rule is not law. Some cities, like San Diego and Berkeley, have their own.
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State pulls Zone 0 rules back before a ruling
The Board of Forestry withdrew its Zone 0 rules from final state review on September 8, 2026, before the Office of Administrative Law ruled on them. The rules never took effect.
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Board of Forestry adopts Zone 0 rules
On August 19, 2026, the Board of Forestry adopted emergency rules for the 5 feet around homes in fire zones. They still needed state approval to take effect.
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San Diego starts applying Zone Zero
On February 12, 2026, the City of San Diego began applying Zone Zero to new homes in its Very High fire zones. It expects existing homes there to comply by February 2027.
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Zone 0 misses another deadline
In December 2025 the Board of Forestry said it would not finish Zone 0 by the governor's December 31 deadline. It had already missed the original January 2023 deadline set by the 2020 law.
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Insurance Commissioner asks the Board to finish Zone 0
California's Insurance Commissioner asked the Board of Forestry to speed up the Zone 0 rules, saying one statewide standard would help keep home insurance available.
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Berkeley adopts its own Zone 0 rules
In June 2025, Berkeley adopted its EMBER rules, which ban plants within 5 feet of homes in two hillside areas. Fire department inspections started in May 2026.
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Governor orders the Board to speed up Zone 0
After the January 2025 Los Angeles fires, the governor ordered the Board of Forestry to speed up the Zone 0 rules for new and existing homes.
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Auburn requires a clear 5 feet around new buildings
Since July 10, 2024, the City of Auburn has required every new building to have a 5-foot area clear of plants and anything that burns. For existing homes it is voluntary.
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FAIR Plan adds discounts for wildfire safety work
The California FAIR Plan announced discounts for home hardening, including keeping a 5-foot ember-resistant zone around the house. They started August 23, 2023.
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Insurers must now offer wildfire safety discounts
California approved the Safer from Wildfires regulation, the first in the nation to require insurers to give discounts for wildfire safety work.
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The 2020 law behind Zone 0
Assembly Bill 3074 was signed on September 29, 2020. It told the Board of Forestry to create an ember-resistant zone within 5 feet of buildings in fire zones.
Updates before October 2026 were added when this site launched, using the sources on each post.