Inside California’s Zone Zero plan
Last January, the Eaton and Palisades Fires hit a hard reality for homebuilders in the state, its past due to prioritize wildfire resilience in design. While the white picket fences and luscious greenery surrounding a home is idyllic, it is also dangerous in a fire-prone area. The new idea, Zone Zero is a proactive plan to protect structures from wildfire. While many homes built after 2007 in wildfire zones are required to meet California’s building codes for fire-resistant materials, many homes in the area are much older than that.
Zone Zero is described as, “in response to the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires in California over the last decade, the Legislature passed AB 3074 (2020)External Link and SB 504 (2024)External Link, making changes to Public Resource Code 4291External Link. These changes require the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Board) to establish an ember-resistant defensible zone the first 5 feet around a structure, referred to as Zone 0. ”
Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-18-25 requires that the Board complete rulemaking for Zone 0 no later than December 31, 2025. The idea still faces community pushback and is open for commentary. The state still looks for viable solutions to fortify its communities from wildfire destruction.
