Zone 0

What it is.

Zone 0 is the first five feet around your house, measured outward from every exterior wall. It is also called the ember-resistant zone. It includes planting beds, bark mulch, gravel, potted plants, door mats, patio cushions, bins, and anything stored against the house.

Why it matters.

Embers travel much further than flames, and most of them land and go out harmlessly. The ones that matter land on something that will carry a flame. Bark mulch, dry shrubs, and a stack of firewood against the wall are all continuous fuel that turns a single ember into a flame touching your siding. Post-fire investigations repeatedly find that ordinary outdoor items in this band acted as the connection between a passing ember shower and the building.

What good looks like.

Nothing combustible in the band. Gravel, bare mineral soil, or hardscape instead of mulch. No woody shrubs against the wall. Firewood moved well away. Cushions and mats brought in when a fire is nearby.

How it is judged.

California insurers that price on wildfire risk are required to credit clearing this zone, under 10 CCR 2644.9(d)(1)(B)1.b. A separate statewide rule specifically governing the zone has been in draft since 2025 and had not been adopted as of August 2026, though some cities and counties already require it. The insurance credit applies today regardless of the rule's status.

What we will ask you.

"In the five feet closest to your house, is there any bark mulch, dead plants, woody shrubs, or stacked firewood?"

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