Zone Zero Regulations in Altadena, Explained
Zone Zero Altadena / Regulations
The statutes, and what they do not currently do
AB 3074, SB 504, and AB 1455 are real bills. They are not a statewide Zone 0 regulation in force. Local rules, where they exist, are what an Altadena homeowner actually follows.
AB 3074: the zone is directed
Directed the state to create the ember-resistant zone: the first 5 feet around structures in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The implementing statewide regulation is not in force.
SB 504: part of the chain
A statute in the Zone 0 rulemaking chain. It is not itself a statewide Zone 0 regulation in force.
AB 1455: no effective date
A statute in the Zone 0 rulemaking chain. No statewide Zone 0 effective date exists as of September 19, 2026.
The Board of Forestry draft
The Board approved a final draft on August 19, 2026. OAL file 2026-0828-03E is listed as withdrawn on September 8, 2026. A draft that has not taken effect is not a regulation in force, and it has no effective date.
In Altadena, LA County Fire is the fire authority; no local Zone 0 ordinance identified
Altadena is unincorporated LA County. The Los Angeles County Fire Department's Defensible Space program covers unincorporated LA County. Its page lists chimney clearance as required and a 100-foot defensible-space radius as a recommendation; it does not list Zone 0 as a requirement.
A secondary source, Wildfire Los Angeles (August 22, 2026), says implementation "will increasingly occur locally" and that local alternatives may be adopted. That is a possibility, not a rule. Confirm with LA County Fire before acting on any deadline.
Regulation questions, answered
Is Zone 0 in force in Altadena right now?
As of September 19, 2026 we have not identified a local Zone 0 ordinance for Altadena, and there is no statewide Zone 0 regulation in force. 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Board of Forestry approved a draft on August 19, 2026, but the emergency filing (OAL file 2026-0828-03E) is listed as withdrawn on September 8, 2026. Confirm with LA County Fire 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Board of Forestry approved a draft on August 19, 2026, but the emergency filing (OAL file 2026-0828-03E) is listed as withdrawn on September 8, 2026. Existing defensible-space law (PRC §4291 and Gov. Code §51182) still applies, including keeping roofs and gutters clear of leaves and needles.
Does the statewide draft apply to Altadena?
Only if it takes effect. The statewide draft would apply in State Responsibility Areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. It is Proposed — not in force, and it has no effective date.
What existing law applies to Altadena homes now?
PRC §4291 and Gov. Code §51182 require roofs and gutters to be kept clear of leaves and needles, and branches within 10 feet of a chimney outlet to be removed. LA County Fire's Defensible Space page also lists chimney clearance as required and a 100-foot defensible-space radius as a recommendation.
Not sure what applies to your parcel?
Send a request and the team will follow up by email about your specific Altadena parcel.