Zone 0 Compliance for HOAs & Community Associations
Firewise publishes public-source fire-zone and fence research that boards can use before requesting proposals directly from independent licensed C-13 contractors.
Community-wide Zone 0 compliance
For HOA boards and community-management companies, Zone 0 planning is a community-wide question, not just a single-property one. Shared fence lines span multiple units and parcels; a combustible fence on one owner's property can affect the exposure of a neighboring structure. This page organizes questions boards can use when evaluating options across a community scope.
- •Shared fence lines: document fence lines that span multiple units or parcels and identify which segments may fall within the Zone 0 boundary of adjacent structures.
- •Common scope: prepare consistent material, measurement, removal, warranty, and bid questions across multiple units.
- •Decision support: material and configuration options presented to a board for evaluation, with the same assessment-and-specification vantage point used for individual property owners.
The regulatory picture
Zone 0, the 0–5 feet nearest a structure, is the subject of a statewide regulation whose final draft the Board of Forestry approved August 19, 2026 (pending OAL; no effective date yet). Some jurisdictions (notably San Diego) already have their own local ordinances in force. The specifics of the status, the fence-provision rule text, and local ordinances already in force are covered in full in our statewide Zone 0 explainer.
For community-wide planning, the key point is that compliance timelines and requirements can vary by jurisdiction and by parcel-level fire-hazard designation. Boards should verify current requirements with CAL FIRE or their local fire authority.
How an HOA can use Firewise research
Use the community and Zone 0 research to identify the applicable authority, compare material claims, and prepare a common scope. The HOA should verify contractors through CSLB, request proposals directly, and contract directly with the contractor it selects.
Board-specific process detail (e.g., how bulk quoting or multi-unit scheduling works): [COMING SOON]
Looking for contractor records?
Use Check Your Home to review public fire-zone context and nearby C-13 license records, then verify scope and availability directly with a contractor.