Zone 0 Fence Rules & Aluminum Fencing for Fire Rebuilds
California’s new Zone 0 rules change what can be built within five feet of a home. Here is what they say about fences and gates, and how architectural aluminum fits a rebuild in Malibu, Pacific Palisades and Altadena.
- Architectural aluminum fence systems
- Matching gates and posts
- Rebuild consultations
- Showroom in Panorama City, LA
After the fires, every rebuild in the hills comes with a new question: what can go next to the house? Zone 0 is the first five feet around a home, the area where wind-blown embers most often start a fire. California now regulates what may be built there, and fences and gates are named directly. If you are planning a rebuild, the fence line is one of the first decisions to get right.
What Zone 0 says about fences and gates
Assembly Bill 3074, passed in 2020, directed the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to create an ember-resistant zone within five feet of homes. On August 19, 2026 the Board adopted emergency Zone 0 regulations. For fences and gates, three points matter most.
No new combustible fencing within 5 ft
New fencing made from combustible materials is prohibited inside Zone 0, the five feet closest to the home.
A noncombustible span where a fence meets the house
Combustible fences and gates may not be attached directly to the home. Attached or nearly attached fencing generally needs a five-foot noncombustible span.
Repairs to existing fences
The rules allow combustible materials to be used for repairs to existing combustible fencing. New construction is where the change applies.
The regulations take effect once filed by the Office of Administrative Law and phase in over three to five years. They first apply to existing structures in State Responsibility Areas and to occupied structures in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in local areas; requirements for new construction follow updated state guidance. Rules and dates can change, so confirm your property’s requirements with your local fire authority and building department.
Why homeowners rebuilding choose aluminum fencing
The rules target the materials most fences have always been made from: wood, vinyl and composite boards. An aluminum fence is a metal fence. Lumina’s systems are made from architectural aluminum with a powder-coated finish, so they do not rot, warp or need repainting, and the same clean horizontal lines work for a modern rebuild or a classic one.
Because every series comes with matching posts and gates, the five feet nearest the house and the rest of the property line can be planned as one system, instead of a patchwork of materials.
If your project needs product documentation for plan check, ask our team what is available for the system you choose.
Planning the first five feet
Most rebuild fence plans come down to a few decisions near the house:
- Where the fence meets the home. Plan the last five feet before the wall as a metal section or a gate, rather than wood or vinyl.
- Side-yard gates. Gates beside the house sit inside Zone 0. A matching aluminum pedestrian gate keeps the run consistent.
- Privacy without wood. For screening close to the house, an aluminum privacy fence or metal privacy screens give the look of a solid wall in metal.
- The driveway. A sliding aluminum gate in the same series ties the front of the property together.
Rebuild consultations for fire-affected neighborhoods
Homeowners, architects and builders working on rebuilds can see every fence series, gate and finish in person at our Panorama City showroom, then plan the full property line in one visit.
To make the visit count, bring a site plan or survey, photos of the existing fence line, and any notes from your architect or plan check. We will walk the five feet nearest the house first, then the side yards, the driveway and the rest of the boundary, so the whole fence line is planned once rather than piece by piece.
Explore the full range of aluminum fence panels and gates, including the louvered Ventura series and aluminum fence posts for concrete and planted ground.
Zone 0 fence questions
What is Zone 0?
Zone 0 is the area within five feet of a home. It is called the ember-resistant zone because wind-blown embers landing close to a house are a leading cause of homes catching fire. California’s AB 3074 required the state to set rules for this zone.
What do the Zone 0 rules say about fences?
New combustible fencing is prohibited within five feet of a home, combustible fences and gates may not be attached directly to the house, and attached or nearly attached fencing generally needs a five-foot noncombustible span. Repairs to existing combustible fences may still use combustible materials.
Do the Zone 0 rules apply to my home?
They first apply to existing structures in State Responsibility Areas and to occupied structures in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in local areas, phasing in over three to five years. Your local fire authority or building department can confirm whether and when they apply to your property.
Can I keep my existing wood fence?
The rules allow repairs to existing combustible fencing with combustible materials. New fencing within Zone 0 is where combustible materials are prohibited. A rebuild is a natural time to replace the section closest to the house.
What fence materials are people using within five feet of the house?
Because the rules restrict combustible materials such as wood and vinyl, homeowners are turning to metal fencing. Lumina’s aluminum fence systems, with matching gates and posts, are a common choice for rebuilds. Confirm the specific requirements for your project with your local authority.
When do the Zone 0 rules take effect?
The Board of Forestry adopted emergency regulations on August 19, 2026. They take effect once filed by the Office of Administrative Law, with requirements phasing in over three to five years.
Do I need a permit for a new fence after a fire?
Fence permits depend on your city, the fence height and its location on the property. In fire rebuilds, fencing is often reviewed together with the overall plan. Check with your local building department before you order, and bring their notes to the showroom so we can plan around them.
Plan your fence line with us
Bring your site plan or architect’s drawings to our Panorama City showroom, or send them to us, and we will help you choose the series, gates and posts for every part of the property.