Zone 0
Zone 0, the first five feet
The strip of ground closest to your walls does more work than any planting scheme further out. What belongs there, and what does not.
July 29, 2026, 4 minute read
Zone 0 is the band of ground within five feet of the exterior walls, including anything under a deck. It is the last place an ember can land and still reach the building directly.
What tends to be found there
- Bark mulch and wood chips right against the wall
- Shrubs planted under windows
- Firewood stacked along the side of the house
- Door mats, patio furniture cushions and plastic storage bins
- Dry leaf litter collecting in the corner where two walls meet
Clearing this band is usually the cheapest change on the list and one of the few a homeowner can finish in a weekend without a contractor. Gravel, bare soil or hardscape in that strip is the goal.
On the rulemaking
You may have read that Zone 0 clearance is required. The state rulemaking has not been adopted, so treat it as a strong recommendation rather than a current legal obligation. That may change, and the practical advice does not depend on it.
Next step
Run a Home Hardening Score for your address and get a written record of what is already in place.
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