What Zone Zero actually requires
Zone Zero — officially the Ember-Resistant Zone — is a buffer measured from zero to five feet outward from any structure on your property: the house, the garage, an attached deck, even the stairs. Under California AB 3074 and Public Resources Code §4291, combustible material inside that buffer must be removed or replaced with something non-combustible.
The reasoning is straightforward. Most homes lost in a wildfire are not consumed by a wall of flame; they are ignited by wind-driven embers landing against something flammable touching the building. A wood fence running into the side of a house is exactly that kind of path.
This is not an abstract concern locally. Large areas of San Diego County are designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, including canyon-adjacent neighbourhoods well inside city limits.
Existing homes in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones must comply by February 2027. New construction must comply on completion.
Check whether it applies to your property
Use the official maps. If either one places your property in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, Zone Zero applies to you.
CAL FIRE hazard severity maps
State Responsibility Area — rural and wildland-adjacent parcels.
San Diego County fire hazard information
Local Responsibility Area — parcels inside incorporated city limits.
Not sure how to read the map? Call us at (760) 798-9775 and we will look at your address with you.
Which materials pass, and which do not
The test is non-combustibility under ASTM E136, not how fire-resistant a product claims to be in marketing copy.
Not permitted in Zone Zero
- Wood fencing — cedar, redwood, pine
- Vinyl and PVC fencing
- Composite panels
- Fire-retardant treated wood
- Bamboo and reed screening
Approved for Zone Zero
- Aluminum — light, no rust, low maintenance
- Steel and wrought iron — strongest option
- Masonry and concrete block
- Gabion — stone in wire baskets
- Galvanized chain link
Most yards need one short transition section changed where the fence meets the house, not a whole new fence. We build powder-coated wrought iron and aluminum that satisfies the rule, and we will tell you plainly which sections are affected and which are not. See iron and aluminum fencing →
Zone Zero questions
What is Zone Zero?
Zone Zero, officially the Ember-Resistant Zone, is the area from zero to five feet measured outward from any structure on a property, including the house, garage, deck and stairs. Under California AB 3074 and Public Resources Code section 4291, combustible materials in that zone must be removed or replaced with non-combustible alternatives.
Do I have to replace my whole fence?
No. Only the sections within five feet of a structure and made of combustible material have to change. Fencing further than five feet from every structure can stay exactly as it is, which usually means a short run near the house rather than the entire property line.
Which fence materials are allowed in Zone Zero?
Aluminum, steel and wrought iron, masonry and concrete block, gabion baskets, and galvanized chain link are all non-combustible and acceptable. Wood, vinyl and PVC, composite, bamboo and fire-retardant treated wood are not.
Can I use fire-retardant treated wood?
No. Fire-retardant treated wood is still combustible and does not pass ASTM E136 non-combustibility testing, so it does not satisfy the Zone Zero requirement.
What about a fence shared with my neighbour?
If your neighbour's house sits within five feet of a shared fence, that fence falls inside their Zone Zero and has to be non-combustible even when your own house is further away. California Civil Code section 841 governs how shared fence costs are handled between neighbours.
When is the deadline?
Existing homes in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones must comply by February 2027. New construction must comply on completion. Checking now is cheaper than discovering it during an insurance inspection or a property sale.
Need a Zone Zero compliant fence?
We will walk the line with you, mark what has to change, and quote it free. No scare tactics and no upselling sections that are already compliant.
This page summarises publicly available California requirements and is not legal advice. Confirm specifics with your local fire authority.