Zone 0 - or defensible space zones - is current legislation facing the state of California. In 2020, AB 3074 passed mandating the creation of these zones but faced delays - it was set to take effect in 2023 - but was not finalized so Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif. Issued Executive Order N-18-25 earlier this year directing the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to expedite the adoption due to the Palisades and Eaton fires.

Zone 0 Defined and Applied
Zone 0 is the area within five feet of a structure. These regulations would prohibit combustible materials like vegetation, mulch, bark, fences, and flammable materials within this area. The Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, alongside the State Fire Marshal, will complete the formal rulemaking process by Dec. 31, 2025. These rules will mostly impact properties in the State Responsibility Area's Fire Hazard Severity Zones over the next three years.


How Zone 0 Effects Landscape Professionals and Research

 
When legislation directly effects landscape contractors, designers, architects, and the industry, professionals are forced to shift their skills and redefine their scopes. Planting directly against a structure will no longer be the norm so there will be a shift to xeriscaping, more frequent maintenance, and the development of low-maintenance, drought-tolerant landscapes.

In 1961, a Bel Air neighborhood of 500 homes was destroyed by Santa Ana winds. Since then, the city banned wood shingles on new homes and introduced rules on brush clearing showing that when disasters happen, regulations evolve.

In a recent course hosted by LandscapeWebinars.org, Research Director of the Institute for Urban and Regional Development at UC Berkeley, Kristina Hill explained that based on research placing any vegetation in Zone 0, can ignite a building if the plants or wooden fences catch fire. The session used examples on the neighborhood scale, fire demonstrations, and how to apply this research into designs, maintenance, and general mitigation practices. Hill hosted a design competition to facilitate best practices without losing beauty. The webinar is available OnDemand.

Concerns for Moving Forward
Conversely, some homeowners, Landscape Architects, and professionals have voiced concerns about the potential costs and design of complying with this law. The state is currently considering assistance programs and educational initiatives, but many are still concerned about the government overreach.

It is estimated that per home it would cost between $5,000 and $100,000 - based on property size - to convert properties to compliance. Even with that, many environmentalists and professionals are concerned about the loss of tree canopy.

The California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) posted an article on their website explaining what the legislation means and encouraging thoughtful design changes and utilizing native plants.
https://readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/defensible-space/

https://greensaus.com/fire-resistant-landscaping-in-los-angeles/

https://rcdsmm.org/wildfire-resilience/hazardous-vegetation-assistance/