Nearly two-thirds of San Diego homeowners will soon have to take a hard look at the space around their homes. New fire prevention rules are set to take effect in February 2026, banning flammable items — like plants, or even fencing — within 5 feet of a home.
Last week, the San Diego City Council fast-tracked controversial “Zone Zero” regulations, requiring this new regulation in high fire hazard severity zones to create much tighter defensible space.
It was initially set to take effect statewide in 2023, then got delayed due to fierce backlash. It could get very expensive very quickly for San Diego home owners.
The red parts of the fire hazard severity zone map from Cal Fire show what’s considered “high fire risk,” which includes about two-thirds of San Diego homes.
