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State approves ‘Zone Zero’ fire-safe landscaping rules, reshaping yards for millions of Californians
LA Times ^ | August 19, 2026 | Noah Haggerty and Hayley Smith

Posted on 08/19/2026 3:14:22 PM PDT by Vendome

California’s Board of Forestry has approved sweeping Zone Zero rules, banning plants within one foot of homes and most combustibles within five feet for millions in high fire-risk communities.

Existing homeowners in state responsibility and very high hazard zones will have up to five years to comply with Zone Zero, while new construction must adhere immediately.

Officials say the changes are crucial as worsening wildfires have destroyed tens of thousands of homes; studies show hardened houses and cleared Zone Zero improve survival and insurability.

The rules ban all plants within a foot of the home and require the first five feet around homes to be free of combustible materials such as firewood, fallen leaves and branches, and mulch or wood chips. They also prohibit wooden sheds in the zone and wooden fences where attached to the house.

The new requirements apply only to Californians living in some of the worst fire hazard zones designated by Cal Fire

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dont; feet; five; matter
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1 posted on 08/19/2026 3:14:22 PM PDT by Vendome
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To: Vendome

California was once a free state........


2 posted on 08/19/2026 3:20:33 PM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: Vendome

Next? A six foot wide concrete glasis fully encircling any construction...


3 posted on 08/19/2026 3:22:36 PM PDT by null and void (Mongo just prawn in buffet of life)
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To: Vendome
The new requirements apply only to Californians living in some of the worst fire hazard zones designated by Cal Fire<>

Which pretty much means everywhere in Commiefornia except Humboldt and Mendocino Counties ...

4 posted on 08/19/2026 3:29:11 PM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all. )
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To: Red Badger

I remember before all those smelly hippies from the NE of USA migrated here this state was very conservative.

McCarthy was right.


5 posted on 08/19/2026 3:29:26 PM PDT by Karliner (Heb 4:12 Rom 8:28 Rev 3, "...This is the end of the beginning." Churchill)
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To: Karliner

Yes. McCarthy was right.

Spot on.


6 posted on 08/19/2026 3:36:39 PM PDT by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
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To: null and void

THE SETBACK FOR MY HOME IN RESEDA, IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY==5 FT.

I HAD HIBISCUS BUSHES & ROSE BUSHES & A “MEYER EVER BEARING” LEMON TREE WITHIN THESE RESTRICTIONS.


7 posted on 08/19/2026 3:36:53 PM PDT by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: Vendome

Or, hear me out…. maybe get some proper force on the edge so you don’t have as many massive wildfires each year go after the environmentalist who starts some of these.


8 posted on 08/19/2026 3:37:14 PM PDT by matt04
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To: ridesthemiles

ALL THE SURROUNDING HOMES HAD WOOD FENCES.


9 posted on 08/19/2026 3:37:39 PM PDT by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
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To: Karliner

It was immigration, the white vote isn’t so different from the past.


10 posted on 08/19/2026 3:39:40 PM PDT by ansel12
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To: Vendome

Used to live in Auburn, Kalifornia. The Fire Department would tell us to create a defensible perimeter around our property. Cut down the fire fuel next to, near your home. They did not openly state that they would not try to save your home, but they made it crystal clear that they might no be able to save every home if you chose to “save the trees” rather than save your home. For most of us, it was a no brainer.


11 posted on 08/19/2026 3:42:18 PM PDT by Ronaldus Magnus III (Do, or do not, there is no try. )
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To: Texas Eagle
Which is fictionalized in the ironically named TV show Fire Country.

-PJ

12 posted on 08/19/2026 3:58:15 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: ridesthemiles

Is Reseda in the Forestry Services Zone Zero?


13 posted on 08/19/2026 4:00:47 PM PDT by TexasKamaAina
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To: Vendome

It’s a shame they can’t think that those very same principles apply towards NOT having the problem.

Like, oh, remembering all the wildfire prevention mentioned and use them in the forests.

Yeah, yeah, I know, expecting sooo much from the progs...

.


14 posted on 08/19/2026 4:23:17 PM PDT by TLI (ITINERIS IMPENDEO VALHALLA)
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To: ansel12

Yeah, well who is in Sacramento running to Maosim? Not immigrants. It’s old hippies and yuppies.


15 posted on 08/19/2026 4:29:25 PM PDT by Karliner (Heb 4:12 Rom 8:28 Rev 3, "...This is the end of the beginning." Churchill)
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To: Vendome
They have no clue what they are doing with fire.

Native vegetation can be designed to be of controllable fuel value while holding slopes, and requiring no irrigation.

16 posted on 08/19/2026 4:45:59 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: Karliner

Whatever that has to do with the question at hand, it was the immigration that took over the California vote, not so much native Californians suddenly all becoming democrats, or a population take over by lefties from the North East.


17 posted on 08/19/2026 5:01:05 PM PDT by ansel12
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To: Carry_Okie

I’m in the Santa Cruz Mountains myself, Brookdale, and was thinking planting cactus or the equivalent thereof around my house...


18 posted on 08/19/2026 5:49:36 PM PDT by TwilightDog (("The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast"--Oscar Wilde))
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To: Vendome

Yes, but will the new rules ban neighboring structures closer than 5 feet?

/s


19 posted on 08/19/2026 6:44:49 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 "/!i!! &@$%&*(@ -')
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To: Carry_Okie

There are a lot of fire resistant plants that are quite beautiful


20 posted on 08/19/2026 8:08:50 PM PDT by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me https://youtu.be/wH-pk2vZG2M)
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