California’s
Zone Zero Law, Explained
On 8/17/26, the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection approved the final regulations for Assembly Bill 3704, also known as the “Zone Zero Law.” This law will apply to properties in “High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones," as determined by your local city authority.
To check your county's fire hazard severity zones, view the updated maps below:
Ventura County
Santa Barbara County
Los Angeles County
The law goes into effect for new construction immediately, but compliance for existing homes will be enforced over the next few years (depending on your city). Here at California Wildfire Group, some of the most common questions we receive about Zone Zero landscaping include:
Do I really have to pull out all the vegetation within the first 5 feet around my house?
What is the best material to put under my eaves?
What if my neighbor's plants are within my Zone Zero?
Do I really have to pull out all the vegetation within the first 5 feet around my house?
Here's the good news: the final regulations do allow for some vegetation within Zone Zero. You must have a vegetation-free zone 1 foot from the wall (or to the eave edge, whichever is further), plus 2 feet around windows, doors, and vents, and 5 feet around an attached deck. Beyond that vegetation-free zone, you may include well-maintained, non-woody, and herbaceous plants (within size/spacing rules), lawn under 3 inches, and/or potted plants in noncombustible containers. Existing trees already in the zone may also stay, subject to trimming. This means there are plenty of green plants that can be located just beyond your eaves. Defensible space design doesn’t have to be ugly!
What is the best material to put under my eaves?
When it comes to the vegetation-free band, our preference is for rocks of varying sizes. These rocks and/or gravel are not only more aesthetically pleasing, but they also allow water to slowly percolate and recharge groundwater during rain storms, provide habitat for wildlife, and are easier to replace should you want to change the appearance of the area in the future.
What if my neighbor's plants are within my Zone Zero?
You are only responsible for “your side of the fence.” The property line protects what each owner is required to maintain, not what can be cited against them. Of course you should cooperate with neighbors to create defensible space (trim trees, etc.), but the local fire authority will step in if there is a posed fire risk that cannot be agreed upon or is not being taken care of.
Zone Zero Landscaping in Ventura & Santa Barbara
As landscape designers, we completely understand concerns on how the new Zone Zero law impacts existing plants and your home's overall aesthetic. However we believe there are plenty of beautiful options as long as you plan ahead and don't resort to replacing your entire yard with gravel. The benefits of green, well-maintained vegetation greatly outweigh a landscape covered with gravel.
We are experts in Ventura and Santa Barbara county landscaping requirements. We can help with:
Zone 0 vegetation and hardscape planning
Fire-resistant plant selection
Native and drought-tolerant plant palettes
Rock, gravel, decomposed granite, pavers, and other noncombustible surfaces
Plant size and spacing design
Irrigation and hydrozone planning
Existing landscape and plant evaluations
Don't wait until the last minute to be compliant.
Let's design something beautiful that you (and your neighbors) enjoy looking at AND keeps your home safe within the new wildfire-ready requirements.