What Zone 0 Regulations Apply in Santa Clarita?
The rule stack, sorted by status
Zone 0 did not arrive in one step. Here is what is in force, what is proposed, and where Santa Clarita stands.
| Authority | Date | Status and what it does |
|---|---|---|
| PRC §4291 / Gov. Code §51182 | Existing law | Required now. Roofs and gutters kept clear of leaves and needles; branches within 10 feet of a chimney outlet removed. |
| AB 3074 | 2020 | Background. Directed the state to create an ember-resistant zone. It is not a current statewide rule that the first five feet be kept clear. |
| Board of Forestry draft | Approved August 19, 2026 | Proposed — not in force. A final draft of the statewide Zone 0 regulation. It has no effective date. |
| OAL file 2026-0828-03E | Listed withdrawn September 8, 2026 | The emergency filing for the draft is listed as withdrawn on the state's own record. |
| LA County Fire Defensible Space program | Page checked September 19, 2026 | The county page lists chimney clearance as required and a 100-foot defensible-space radius as a recommendation. It does not use Zone 0 as a requirement. |
| Santa Clarita local Zone 0 ordinance | As of September 19, 2026 | None identified. Our check covered the county program page and targeted searches, not the city's full municipal code. |
Not in force. The statewide draft is Proposed — not in force. Nothing in it is a current requirement, and it has no effective date. Clearing the first five feet is Recommended now.
Who is the fire authority, and is there a local rule?
The Los Angeles County Fire Department Defensible Space program covers 60 incorporated cities plus unincorporated LA County, and the county's program page lists Santa Clarita. That makes LA County Fire Santa Clarita's fire authority.
As of September 19, 2026 we have not identified a local Zone 0 ordinance for Santa Clarita. Local alternatives to the statewide draft may be adopted in the future, so confirm with LA County Fire and the city before acting on any deadline.
Regulation questions, answered
Is Zone 0 required in Santa Clarita?
As of September 19, 2026 we have not identified a local Zone 0 ordinance for Santa Clarita. The statewide Zone 0 draft is Proposed — not in force. Confirm with LA County Fire and the city before acting on any deadline.
Is Zone 0 a statewide law in California?
As of September 19, 2026 there is no statewide Zone 0 regulation in force in California. The Board of Forestry approved a draft on August 19, 2026, but the emergency filing (OAL file 2026-0828-03E) is listed as withdrawn on September 8, 2026.
Which law created Zone 0?
AB 3074 (2020) directed the state to create an ember-resistant zone. The implementing statewide regulation is not in force. Existing law (PRC §4291 and Gov. Code §51182) is what applies now: roofs and gutters kept clear of leaves and needles, and branches within 10 feet of a chimney outlet removed.
Does the City of Santa Clarita write its own Zone 0 rules?
We have not identified a local Zone 0 ordinance for Santa Clarita. The Los Angeles County Fire Department is the fire authority, and the county’s program page lists Santa Clarita. Our check covered that page and targeted searches, not the city’s full municipal code, so confirm with the city.
What happens if I do nothing?
As of September 19, 2026 we have not identified a Zone 0 requirement that applies to a Santa Clarita parcel. Existing law still applies, including keeping roofs and gutters clear. Clearing the first five feet is Recommended now, and no deadline has been set.
Have a question about your property?
Send a request and the team will follow up by email.