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San Diego County

Zone 0 status in San Diego County

San Diego County spans a dense coastal city and large unincorporated wildland areas further inland. Within San Diego city limits specifically, the city's own 5-foot ember-resistant zone ordinance (Municipal Code §512.0604) has applied to new construction since February 28, 2026, with existing structures given until February 28, 2027 to comply - stricter, and earlier, than the statewide rule that applies to the rest of the county.

City of San Diego A 5-foot ember-resistant zone requirement in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within city limits. In effect for new construction since February 28, 2026; existing structures have until February 28, 2027. (San Diego Municipal Code §512.0604 (SDWUI Code), Ordinance O-22042.) Source

Phased in: already required for new construction; existing homes get a later compliance date, see the summary above for specifics.

San Diego County (unincorporated) Covers unincorporated areas via 12 individual fire protection districts, each adopting the county's model WUI code. Requires the 5 feet around a structure (including attached decks/patios) to be continuous hardscape or non-combustible material, with mulch and other combustible material prohibited. Three districts (Deer Springs, North County, San Diego County Fire) adopted a stronger version that also requires roof/gutter debris removal, dead-branch and 10-foot chimney clearance, and adds nuisance-abatement enforcement reaching existing homes. Adopted March 3, 2026 (first reading Feb 10); effective April 2, 2026. (San Diego County Code, Title 9, Division 6, Chapter 2, §604.12.1 (2026 Consolidated WUI Code, "Zone 0 Immediate Zone").) Source
Elsewhere in this county Outside the specific jurisdiction(s) named above, the statewide Zone 0 rule (adopted August 19, 2026) applies based on your property's Fire Hazard Severity Zone, not a county-wide mandate.
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What this is, and isn't Zone Zero Check is an independent, AI-assisted informational tool. It is not affiliated with CAL FIRE or the State of California, and it does not satisfy the official Defensible Space Inspection required under Civil Code §1102.19 (AB 38) for a home sale. That documentation comes only from CAL FIRE or your local fire department, request it directly at fire.ca.gov/dspace.