The Zone Zero Laws, Explained for Brentwood
Four documents govern Zone 0
Each one added a layer. Together they define what the first five feet around a Brentwood home must look like.
| Authority | Year | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| AB 3074 | 2020 | Creates the ember-resistant zone: the first 5 feet around structures in Very High FHSZ areas, and directs the Board of Forestry to write the rules. |
| SB 504 | 2024 | Refines the defensible-space framework and how the new zone integrates with existing Zones 1 and 2. |
| AB 1455 | 2025 | Adjusts implementation and phasing ahead of final rulemaking. |
| Board of Forestry draft | April 17, 2026 | The most current regulatory text: phased compliance, immediate rules for new fences and rebuilds, and education-first enforcement. Final regulations expected late 2026. |
What counts as Zone 0 on a Brentwood lot
The zone is measured from any structure: the house, a detached garage, a pool cabana, a guest house. On Sullivan Canyon's equestrian lots that can include barns and tack rooms.
Inside those five feet, the rules regulate combustible material of every kind: vegetation, mulch, wood fencing where it attaches to the structure, firewood, stored items, and furniture.
Attached items count. A wood gate touching the house is a fuse. A trellis on the wall is a ladder. The rule follows the fuel, not the label.
How the fence rules workZone 0 law questions from Brentwood
Which law actually created Zone Zero?
AB 3074, signed in 2020, created the ember-resistant zone: the first 5 feet around structures in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. SB 504 (2024) and AB 1455 (2025) refined the framework, and the April 17, 2026 Board of Forestry draft is the most current regulatory text.
Does Zone 0 apply to every Brentwood home?
It applies to homes in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. In Brentwood that reliably includes the canyon and hillside streets north of Sunset. Parcels in the flats vary: the maps decide, so check your specific address rather than assuming.
Who writes the rules that actually apply to my parcel: the state or the city?
Both, in layers. The state framework is the floor. The City of Los Angeles, through LAFD, is the Authority Having Jurisdiction that inspects, enforces, and sets Phase 2 timing for Brentwood parcels. When the local rule is stricter, the local rule wins.
Will I get fined immediately if I am not compliant?
No. The April 2026 draft makes enforcement education-first: notices and correction periods before penalties. But new-fence and rebuild requirements apply immediately once regulations adopt, and LAFD's existing brush clearance program already carries real consequences for non-compliance.
Get a plan matched to the actual rules
One free visit maps every statute above to your specific parcel. No guessing, no over-building.