Ready Fire One
Book Your Free Assessment
Clean defensible space landscaping around a home

Perimeter defense

Zone 0 defensible space starts where the house can ignite

RF1 helps homeowners clean up the first 5 feet, reduce near-home fuel, and create documentation that explains what changed.

Perimeter Defense

Rule update

California approved its final Zone 0 regulations on August 19, 2026. New construction must comply as soon as the rules take effect (expected late September), and existing homes phase in over 3 to 5 years, with roof, gutter, and dead-branch duties applying immediately. Read the full breakdown of the final rules.

A practical first pass around the house

These are the issues RF1 looks for first because they are close to the structure, easy to photograph, and often easy to improve.

Read the California Zone 0 law guide
  1. 01

    Clear leaves, bark, pine needles, and dead plant material from the first 5 feet.

  2. 02

    Move stored items, bins, firewood, and furniture away from walls, decks, and openings.

  3. 03

    Separate plants from siding, windows, vents, fences, and stairs.

  4. 04

    Replace problem mulch edges with noncombustible transitions where practical.

  5. 05

    Keep the area maintainable so debris does not return after one cleanup.

  6. 06

    Photograph the work with clear before and after angles.

Who does the work?

Every job runs through licensed and insured local crews we have vetted and worked with before. RF1 scopes the job, supervises the work, and photographs everything, and you sign one contract with RF1, not five contractor bids. One plan and one point of contact, from the first walkthrough to the insurer-ready documentation packet.

Before and after Zone 0 cleanup at a home wall

Zone 0 works best with structure defense

A clean perimeter reduces fuel near the home. Ember-resistant vents, sealed gaps, and cleaner roof or gutter edges reduce the paths embers can use once they reach the structure.

Learn about ember-resistant vents

Looking for the California law, not the service checklist?

The learn article covers the final Zone 0 rules approved in August 2026: who is covered, the phase-in timeline, and what is allowed in the first 5 feet. This page is the practical cleanup and mitigation guide.

Zone 0 law

Zone 0 cleanup across the LA foothills

RF1 coordinates wildfire hardening for homes from Pasadena and Altadena through the foothills, canyons, and coast to Santa Barbara. See how we work in your area:

Looking for hands-on defensible space help? Defensible space contractor for Los Angeles or browse all assessment areas.