Zone 0: the first five feet
The narrowest zone, and the one that decides the most.
Zone 0 is the five feet closest to your home, measured from its furthest projection like an eave or a deck, not the wall. It is the ember-resistant zone: no combustible mulch, nothing stored against the house, and plants kept low and off the wall. Wind-blown embers are the leading cause of home loss, and this is where they land.
The newest and strictest zone, and the simplest to picture
Zone 0 is built to give embers nothing to catch on. It is measured from the furthest thing that sticks out, not the wall, because that is the line embers actually reach.
The first 5 feet
The narrowest band of defensible space, and the one under the newest requirements.
Measured from the eave
From the furthest projection, an eave, an attached deck, or a stairway, not from the wall face.
Built ember-resistant
The goal is simple: leave a wind-blown ember nothing it can ignite against the house.
Embers, not the flame front, take most homes
Which is why the first five feet matters more than its size suggests.
A single glowing ember can be enough. Lab tests showed one flaming ember igniting the pine needles in a gutter, and beds of fine litter against the house.
NIST ember-ignition researchEmbers, not the flame front, are the major cause of home loss in a wildfire. The first five feet is where they collect.
IBHS, Home Mitigations That Matter, 2023Mostly material and housekeeping, not landscaping
Start by taking the fuel out of the first five feet.
- Combustible mulch and bark
- Dead leaves and needles, on the ground and in gutters
- Firewood and anything stored against the wall
- Flammable items under attached decks and stairs
- Plants pressed against walls, windows, or vents
- Combustible fences where they meet the house
The ground
Hardscape or noncombustible cover: gravel, pavers, stone, or bare soil. Keep artificial turf off the wall.
The ember traps
Keep roofs and gutters clear, clean under eaves and around vents, and keep the area under attached decks noncombustible.
Fences and gates
A combustible fence or gate that meets the house is a wick to the wall. Break that connection near the structure.
Plants, if you keep them
Low, well spaced, fire-smart, and in noncombustible pots, pulled off the wall and away from windows and vents.
San Diego is ahead of the state on this
Zone 0 is written into law locally, and it arrives on a schedule. The exact date that applies to you depends on your jurisdiction and whether your home is new or existing.
- Feb 28, 2026City of San Diego, new constructionRequired for new homes now.
- Apr 2, 2026Unincorporated countyZone 0 in force for homes in the county fire districts.
- Feb 28, 2027City of San Diego, existing homesEnforcement begins, on a phased plan.
- Feb 28, 2029City of San Diego, full complianceThe phase-in for existing homes completes.
- FinalizingCalifornia statewide ruleThe Board of Forestry’s Zone 0 regulation is still being finalized.
What we look for on your lot
On a walk we read your first five feet for exactly this, and you get back a prioritized read, in order of what matters most.
- Combustible mulch and stored fuel in the first five feet
- Plants and items pressed against walls, windows, and vents
- Gutters, eaves, and under-deck areas that collect embers
- Fences and gates that connect to the house
- Your specific deadline, and where to start
- What comes first, and what can wait
Get ahead of the first five feet
A Risk Walk tells you where your Zone 0 stands today, what your deadline is, and what to do first. What you do with the findings, with us, with your own contractor, or yourself, is your call.