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.
The Board withdrew its Zone 0 package from final state review on September 8. It has not been resubmitted.
A Los Angeles wildfire nonprofit reported that the Board described the pause as a chance to make technical edits before resubmitting, and that another public comment period is likely. The Board has not published a date.
What it means for you
- Statewide, nothing new is required today.
- Check with your city or fire district. San Diego and parts of Berkeley already enforce their own Zone 0 rules. Where it stands
- Existing state rules for the 100 feet around homes in fire zones still apply.
- Insurers still have to offer a discount for a clear 5 feet. How it works
Get Zone Zero Watch by email
We'll email you when the Zone 0 rule, the deadlines or insurance rules change. Nothing else.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. We never share your email. Privacy
Sources
- Emergency regulations under review, California Office of Administrative Law, checked October 11, 2026
- Recent actions taken on emergency regulations (file 2026-0828-03E, Zone 0 Defensible Space), California Office of Administrative Law, checked October 11, 2026
- Zone 0 regulations withdrawn from OAL review: what happens next?, Wildfire Los Angeles (nonprofit), September 11, 2026 (not an official source)
More updates
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.