Say goodbye to your precious shrubs – state regulators are working on new fire safety rules that will dictate what you can and can’t place around your home.
California’s “zone zero” law – which became law four years ago but hasn’t yet been enforced – requires that a five-foot zone around every home in a high-risk area remain cleared as a fire buffer. The state Board of Forestry is working with Cal Fire to decide which materials should be allowed in the buffer zone.
“The first five feet becomes very important to survivability of the home,” Cal Fire’s Frank Bigelow told KNX News’ Karen Adams. “Any placement of trash cans or material next to the home that could ignite would not be allowed.”
Bigelow said the list of prohibited items is going to be “very small,” but synthetic lawns, fences, mulch, and some types of potted plants could all be on the chopping block.
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The Board of Forestry will receive a draft of the proposed regulations in April. Once they're approved, homeowners would have three years to comply.
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