Adopted, not yet in effect. The Board of Forestry adopted emergency Zone 0 regulations 8 to 0 on August 19, 2026, filed them with the Office of Administrative Law on August 28, and withdrew the filing on September 8 for technical edits. No new filing date has been announced. Last checked 2026-09-25. We update this block every time the status changes.
What Zone Zero requires of a fence or gate
Zone 0 comes from AB 3074, passed in 2020. It defines a five foot ember resistant zone around every structure in a fire hazard severity zone. The Board of Forestry writes the detailed rules, and the adopted text says this about fences and gates:
- No new combustible fence or gate may attach to the house.
- Where an existing fence attaches to the house, a five foot noncombustible span is required within the phase-in period.
- Existing wood fences can be repaired like for like.
- Outbuildings under 120 square feet inside the zone must be fully noncombustible.
- New construction complies on the effective date. Existing homes get three years for debris, trees, and landscaping and five years for fences, under-eave areas, and outbuildings.
Malibu adopted Ordinance 527 on October 28, 2025, designating the entire city a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. That puts every Malibu parcel inside the Zone 0 footprint. Pacific Palisades, Topanga, and the Conejo side sit in the same zones.
The five foot swap: replacing only the section that touches the house
Most homes do not need a new fence. They need the last five feet of it replaced with something that does not burn, tied into the house with a noncombustible return. We fabricate that section in aluminum or steel, match the height and line of the existing fence, and finish it so the swap reads as intentional rather than patched. Same for the gate: a wood gate hung on the house wall gets replaced with a metal gate in a wood-look finish if you want the look to stay.
Full noncombustible fences and gates
If the fence is due for replacement anyway, or you are rebuilding after the fire, we build the whole perimeter in aluminum or steel. Powder coated for salt air, in matte black, dark bronze, walnut wood-look, weathered steel, or coastal grey. Pool fencing, privacy fencing, and open view fencing that meets Malibu's height rules. Every gate comes with its operator, keypad, and intercom designed in, not bolted on after.
The builder's view: the fence is part of the house envelope
Gate companies sell aluminum because it does not rust. We build in aluminum and steel because it does not burn, and we know what is on the other side of the wall it attaches to. Where the fence meets the house is also where siding, vents, eaves, and glazing meet. A licensed general contractor looks at all of it in one site walk. That is the difference between meeting Zone 0 at the gate and meeting it at the house.
If you are rebuilding, the perimeter gets designed with the house from the first drawing. See fire rebuilds and fire hardening.
Insurance programs that reference the five feet
The California Department of Insurance requires carriers to offer wildfire mitigation discounts under its Safer from Wildfires framework. The IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home designation requires a five foot noncombustible zone and lists noncombustible fencing within five feet as a qualifying measure. Discount amounts vary by carrier, so we do not promise a percentage. We do build to the standard the programs describe and give you the documentation to submit.
Questions we get about zone zero fences and gates
Is Zone Zero the law in Malibu right now?
As of September 25, 2026, no. The Board of Forestry adopted the emergency regulations on August 19, 2026, filed them with the Office of Administrative Law on August 28, then withdrew the filing on September 8 to make technical edits. No resubmission date has been given. Malibu designated the whole city a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone on October 28, 2025, so every parcel in the city is inside the footprint once the rule takes effect.
Do I have to tear out my whole wood fence?
Under the adopted text, no. Existing wood fences can be repaired like for like. Where a fence attaches to the house, a five foot noncombustible span is required within the phase-in period. New fences and gates may not attach to the house with combustible material at all.
How long do existing homes get to comply?
The adopted text phases existing homes in over three years for debris, trees, and landscaping, and five years for fences, under-eave areas, and outbuildings. New construction complies on the effective date. These windows only start once the rule is operative.