The proposed defensible space rules, which will be enforced by Cal Fire, aim to reduce the risk of fire by addressing the danger posed by embers landing close to structures
California is working on new statewide regulations aimed at reducing fire hazards in fire-prone areas by removing plants, mulch, and other flammable materials within 5 feet of buildings and structures. The California Board of Forestry confirmed this month that these proposed guidelines would also prohibit wooden privacy fences, a common feature in many backyards. Under the new rules, existing flammable fences will be treated the same as new construction, requiring homeowners to replace them with non-flammable alternatives.
“We’re already getting calls on that,” said Cassidy Everitt, Manager at Arbor Fence, a Sonoma-based fence construction company that uses redwood for about 75% of its projects. Everitt noted that customers seeking to replace their wooden fences often consider metal, tin, or chain-link options. However, she highlighted a significant challenge: getting neighbors to agree. “And neighbors are almost never on the same page,” she added.
There is no set date for when the new defensible space guidelines will be finalised or implemented, according to Edith Hannigan, a spokesperson for the California Board of Forestry. However, experts believe it’s only a matter of time before insurance companies make these changes mandatory. As California grapples with an insurance crisis, property owners need to take all possible measures to keep their policies in place and affordable. The state is currently developing a plan to ensure that insurance companies remain engaged in insuring properties in high-risk areas.
The proposed defensible space rules, which will be enforced by Cal Fire, aim to reduce the risk of fire by addressing the danger posed by embers landing close to structures. State officials point out that 13 of California’s 20 most destructive wildfires have occurred since 2017, resulting in the destruction of approximately 40,000 structures, millions of acres burned, and the loss of 148 lives.
These new guidelines were developed by the National Fire Protection Association, a nonprofit based in Quincy, Massachusetts, and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, an industry trade group in Tampa, Florida. The latter organisation uses a simulator to research effective home-hardening measures.
Many California property owners in fire-prone areas, such as those in the North Bay, are already familiar with broader defensible space guidelines for the 30- to 100-foot perimeter around their homes. The new “5-foot rule,” however, introduces additional restrictions beyond those already in place for the 5 to 30-foot zone, known as Zone 1. Current guidelines for this zone prohibit dead and dying grass, plants, shrubs, trees, branches, leaves, weeds, and pine needles. Additionally, branches must be cleared from chimney and stove pipe outlets within 10 feet. Zone 2, covering 30 to 100 feet, requires more open space between shrubs and trees, following a “fuel separation” method. The Board of Forestry’s latest zone, referred to as “Zone Zero,” also bans wood piles within 5 feet of structures.
As these new rules are being drafted, California property owners in fire-prone areas should stay informed and prepare for potential changes that could help protect their homes from future wildfires.
