California’s effort to finalize its new Zone 0 wildfire regulations has encountered an unexpected procedural turn.
The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection has withdrawn its Zone 0 regulatory package from review by the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL). The regulations had been submitted as an emergency rulemaking following the Board’s approval of its final draft in August.
This does not mean Zone 0 has been abandoned or rejected. Information subsequently provided by the Board indicates that the withdrawal is procedural, allowing the Board to address technical edits and questions before resubmitting the regulations to OAL. However, an exact timetable for resubmission has not yet been provided.
That leaves several important questions unanswered.
Will resubmission begin a new regulatory review period? Will Californians have another opportunity to provide public comment? How long will the additional review take? And will any of the changes go beyond technical corrections and affect how the regulations ultimately apply to homeowners and local fire departments?
The Board has indicated that another comment period is likely, although its timing and duration remain uncertain.
MySafe:LA Has Raised Concerns
MySafe:LA supports the fundamental objective of Zone 0: creating a practical, five-foot ember-resistant area around structures that reduces pathways for wildfire ignition. We have also consistently argued that one size does not fit all, particularly in densely developed Southern California communities.
MySafe:LA recently submitted comments to OAL raising concerns about the economic analysis accompanying the proposed regulations. The state’s Form 399 estimated average homeowner compliance costs at approximately $960. Based on our field assessment experience, we believe average costs could exceed $2,500 per property, with some homeowners facing substantially greater expenses.
Cost is only one of the issues surrounding implementation. Questions involving local flexibility, existing landscaping, closely spaced homes, enforcement, home hardening and the relationship between state regulations and local fire codes remain important.
The withdrawal does not establish that these concerns—or the many comments submitted by other organizations and residents—caused the Board’s action. The Board has characterized the withdrawal as part of the regulatory process.
What Should Homeowners Do Now?
Homeowners should not interpret this development as a reason to stop preparing.
Regardless of the final language of Zone 0, reducing opportunities for ember ignition remains an important component of wildfire resilience. Homeowners can continue removing accumulated combustible debris, keeping roofs and gutters clean, examining combustible fencing and stored materials near structures, and evaluating vulnerabilities involving vents, windows, siding, eaves and other potential ember-entry points.
Most importantly, Zone 0 should not be viewed in isolation. Defensible space and home hardening work together.
MySafe:LA will continue following the Board of Forestry and OAL process closely. When the regulations are resubmitted, we’ll examine what changed, whether additional public input will be accepted, and what the revised timeline means for Los Angeles homeowners and local fire agencies.
For a deeper look at this breaking development, watch the latest special edition of REBUILD:LA, where we examine what the withdrawal means, what we know today, and the questions California still needs to answer.
Learn more and watch REBUILD:LA at https://rebuildla.buzzsprout.com
