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.
The Board's chair said the hardest question was how strict to be about plants, wood fences and other things that burn within 5 feet of homes.
The rules would cover about 2 million homes in high-risk areas, according to the report.
What it means for you
- Nothing changed for homeowners at the time. The Board went on to adopt rules in August 2026.
Added to this site on October 10, 2026.
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Sources
- California again delays Zone Zero wildfire protection rules for homes, Sonoma Index-Tribune, December 10, 2025 (not an official source)
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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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.