AB 3074 Zone 0 Ember-Resistant Zone (Mandate)
CAL FIRE / Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (rulemaking); local fire authority (enforcement)
What you get
Typical cost to comply: $500–$8,000 per home
Range depends on what's already in the first 5 feet. Bark mulch swap + plant removal is the low end. Replacing a wood fence, deck attachment, or hardscaping pulls it higher. This is cost-to-comply, not money received.
Current status
Final regulations approved by the Board of Forestry Aug 19, 2026, but the emergency filing was withdrawn from OAL review Sept 8, 2026 for technical fixes; no effective date exists yet. Once effective: new construction complies immediately; existing homes get roof/gutter/dead-branch duties on day one, full combustible removal within 3 years, remaining items within 3-5 years (local fire agency discretion). Applies to all SRA parcels and LRA Very High zones only.
Who qualifies
- Geography
- CA · all California counties · in a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
- Income
- No income limit
- Property
- single family, condo, manufactured, townhouse, mixed use, rental
What work qualifies
- Zone 0 vegetation clearing (first 5 ft)
- Ember-resistant fencing
- Fence-to-house break
· DIY work allowed
Other rules: Applies to first 5 feet around any structure in a High or Very High FHSZ.
How to apply
- 01Confirm your home meets the eligibility above.
- 02Complete the qualifying work (or document existing work if it already meets the spec).
- 03Submit to CAL FIRE / Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (rulemaking); local fire authority (enforcement) with photos, contractor invoices, and any required forms.
How RF1 helps
If you're in a Very High zone, you have until Jan 1, 2027 to clear the first 5 feet. We do this work and document it for your insurance discount in the same visit.
Most homeowners qualify on paper but never claim — hiring the crew, capturing the work to spec, and crafting the submission stops them. We run end-to-end home hardening with vetted installers, document every install for each program's filing, and stack every claim into one project.