What the wildland urban interface code requires
On January 1, 2026, the ignition resistant requirements that used to sit in Chapter 7A moved into the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code. Same substance, new name. For a new home in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, which is all of Malibu, that means:
- Class A roof assembly, with bird stops and no gaps at the eave.
- Ember resistant vents, or vent designs listed for the wildland zone.
- Enclosed eaves and soffits in noncombustible or ignition resistant material.
- Noncombustible or ignition resistant exterior cladding.
- Tempered, multi-pane glazing.
- Noncombustible decking within the zone, and a noncombustible zone in the first five feet.
Retrofits for a standing home
Most homes that survived the last fire will face the next one with the same weak points. In rough order of risk per dollar: vents and the under-eave area, gutters and roof edges, the five foot zone and anything combustible that touches the wall, the garage door, then cladding and roof. We walk the outside of the house once and hand you that list with prices, so you can fix the cheap dangerous things first.
The first five feet: Zone Zero on your lot
The Board of Forestry's adopted Zone 0 rules, not yet in effect as of November 2026, put the first five feet around a structure under a noncombustible standard. Fences and gates that attach to the house are the item most homeowners miss. We build that connection in aluminum or steel and tie it into the wall as part of the house envelope. See Zone Zero fences and gates, and for where the rule stands today, the journal's Zone Zero status note.
Windows and doors
We sell and install windows and doors. The code asks for tempered multi-pane glazing, and how the frame meets the wall assembly matters as much as the glass, so we do the opening as one job: the unit, the flashing, and the wall on both sides. Laminated glass is an option where you want the pane to hold together after it cracks.
If you are keeping your existing windows, a clear safety film bonded to the interior lite holds broken glass in place in much the same way. It does not make the unit a code-rated laminated window, and film on a sealed insulated unit can affect the window maker's glass warranty, so we tell you that before you decide.
Insurance programs that recognize the work
The California Department of Insurance's Safer from Wildfires framework requires carriers to offer discounts for specific mitigation measures. The IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home designation is one path: an evaluator, a five foot noncombustible zone, and a list of hardening measures. We build to those measures and give you photos and documentation to submit. The discount is the carrier's decision, so we do not quote one.
Questions we get about fire hardening
Can a standing home be hardened without a rebuild?
Yes. Vents, eaves, gutters, the five foot zone, the fence connection, and the garage door are all retrofits we do on standing homes. Roof and cladding replacements are bigger jobs but still retrofits. We prioritize by what carries the most ember risk for the least cost on your particular house.
Do you replace windows?
Yes. We sell and install windows and doors. The code asks for tempered multi-pane glazing, and we handle the frame, the flashing, and the wall assembly together so the opening meets the standard as one piece of work. For homeowners keeping their existing glass, we offer a clear safety film on the interior lite as a lower-cost step.
Will my insurer give a discount?
California requires carriers to offer wildfire mitigation discounts, and the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home designation lists specific measures including a five foot noncombustible zone. The amount is set by each carrier and we do not promise a percentage. We build to the standard and give you the documentation.