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.
The rules would ban bark mulch, firewood and woody plants within 5 feet of a house, clear the space under decks, and keep wood fences from attaching to the house.
The Board published its notice on August 20 and sent the package for final state review on August 28.
Existing homes would get time: some items right away, most within 3 years, and some up to 5 years on a local fire agency's schedule.
What it means for you
- Adoption alone did not make Zone 0 law. It needed approval by the Office of Administrative Law.
- See every requirement in plain English
Added to this site on October 10, 2026.
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Sources
- Notice of proposed emergency action: Zone 0 defensible space, California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, August 20, 2026
- California Board of Forestry adopts emergency Zone 0 regulations under AB 3074, Best Best & Krieger (law firm), September 2026 (not an official source)
- Recent actions taken on emergency regulations (file 2026-0828-03E, Zone 0 Defensible Space), California Office of Administrative Law, checked October 11, 2026
More updates
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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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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.