Clear zones. Safer homes. Defensible space can help protect your home, your family and the firefighters defending your community.
```Important: Just Fences provides this page as a general educational resource. We are fencing and construction professionals—not legal, fire-code or insurance experts. Regulations and local requirements may change. Confirm the rules for your property with your local fire department, fire-prevention authority, building department and insurance provider before beginning work.
The area immediately surrounding the home, including attached decks and the point where fencing connects to a structure. Current guidance emphasizes removing combustible debris and materials and using noncombustible surfaces wherever practical.
Remove dead or dry vegetation, maintain plants and trees, and create separation between potential fuels so fire is less likely to move toward the structure.
Reduce the amount and continuity of vegetation and other fuels. Required distances may be affected by property lines, slope, terrain and local rules.
California enacted Assembly Bill 3074 in 2020 and Senate Bill 504 in 2024. Together, these measures amended Public Resources Code section 4291 and directed the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to establish an ember-resistant defensible-space zone within the first five feet surrounding a structure—commonly called Zone 0.
Defensible-space obligations already apply to properties in California's State Responsibility Area and to designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within Local Responsibility Areas. Local jurisdictions may also impose additional or more specific requirements.
Current status: As of June 2026, the statewide Board of Forestry rulemaking process was still underway, with draft language, public workshops and implementation details under review. Do not rely on a proposed statewide deadline without checking the latest state and local guidance.
Current CAL FIRE guidance recommends replacing combustible fencing, gates and arbors that are directly attached to a home with noncombustible alternatives. Proposed Zone 0 rules may also affect sheds, stored materials, vegetation, mulch and other combustible items located within five feet of a structure.
Because every property is different, Just Fences recommends requesting a defensible-space or home-hardening evaluation from your local fire authority. An evaluation can help identify priority work, confirm which rules apply and determine whether grant assistance may be available.
Just Fences can help homeowners evaluate fencing options near the home, including transitions from wood fencing to noncombustible gates or panels where appropriate. We also offer SaferWood Thermex-FR fire-retardant-treated wood for suitable projects.
Final materials and installation details should be reviewed for your specific property and confirmed with the authority having jurisdiction. Contact us to discuss practical options for improving safety without sacrificing the look and function of your fence.
```An April 18, 2026 report in the Los Angeles Times described the proposal then under review as allowing existing homeowners three years after final adoption for certain landscaping changes and up to five years for larger changes, such as modifying combustible fencing and sheds. These time periods should be treated as proposed—not final—until statewide regulations are adopted and your local authority confirms how they apply.
Use these official and Marin-focused resources to check current rules, maps, evaluations and possible financial assistance:
Information reviewed June 23, 2026.
At Just Fences, we are proud to offer the gold standard of service throughout Marin County. From new fence design and installation to existing fence repair, Kevin at Just Fences will guarantee your satisfaction.
