What comes next for the Zone Zero fire rule?

By Zack Cefalu, legislative and policy analyst

The Zone Zero Regulatory Advisory Committee announced last week that it is taking more time to address concerns with the draft Zone Zero regulation. The proposed rule focuses on making the space immediately around homes (zero to five feet) more fire-resistant.

Cal Cities has been monitoring the proceedings to determine Zone Zero’s impact on cities and overall wildfire preparedness. Cities with concerns about the regulation should email Legislative Advocate Jolena Voorhis.

The regulation was set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2023, but was delayed. Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to finalize the rule by the end of 2025 as part of a March emergency proclamation.

Members of the public have raised concerns over the rule’s potted plant limits and the total removal of brush and vegetation. Many worried that the regulation would effectively bar smaller and urban yards from having any vegetation and the unintended consequences this could have on the local environment. 

During the June workshop, the advisory committee identified several trends, including concerns over tree and vegetation loss, a one-size-fits-all approach, the scientific information used to set the regulations, and the financial impact on homeowners. The committee emphasized that fire research shows that these types of changes increase the survivability of homes and communities from embers, which are largely responsible for wildfire spread in urban areas.

The Board is taking more time to review the draft regulations and the specific recommendations but still plans on finalizing the regulations by the end of 2025. More information should be provided at the next Board meeting in late July.