San Diego County · Written by fire professionals

Wildfire law, defensible space, and fire risk — explained clearly.

The plain-language resource for California property owners navigating wildfire compliance, insurance, and real risk. Written by fire professionals — grounded in fire science, not aggregated from government PDFs.

Find your situation ↓ Skip to mitigation services →

Where do you want to start?

Situations

I have a specific problem

Something brought you here. Start with your situation and get straight to what matters.

  • My insurance was non-renewed
  • I got a CAL FIRE notice
  • Selling a home in a fire zone
  • Forced onto the FAIR Plan
All situations → Topics

I have a specific question

Defensible space, AB 3074 – Zone 0, home hardening, fire behavior — plain answers to real questions.

  • What is Zone 0?
  • How does wildfire spread?
  • Wood fencing and fire risk
  • How to pass an inspection
All topics → California Law

I want to know the law

Every major California wildfire statute explained — plus community-specific rules for San Diego County.

  • PRC 4291 — defensible space
  • AB 3074 — Zone 0 rules
  • SRA vs LRA explained
  • My community’s requirements
California Law →

California Law

The laws shaping what homeowners must do — and what insurers can do

California’s wildfire regulatory landscape has changed significantly in recent years. These are the laws with the most direct impact on property owners in fire-prone areas.

PRC 4291 Defensible Space — The Foundation The baseline obligation for every property in a State Responsibility Area. Requires 100 feet of managed clearance around all structures, divided into three zones. Read the law → AB 3074 Zone 0 — The Ember-Resistant Perimeter Adds the strictest zone to PRC 4291. The five-foot ember-resistant perimeter around your structure is where most homes are lost. Enacted 2020, fully enforceable now. Read the law → Chapter 7A Ignition-Resistant Construction Governs construction standards for new builds and rebuilds in fire zones. Ember-resistant vents, fire-rated assemblies, exterior materials. Increasingly factored into insurance risk assessments. Read the law → AB 38 Home Hardening Disclosure at Point of Sale Sellers of homes in High or Very High FHSZ must provide a home hardening checklist and defensible space compliance documentation at the time of sale. Read the law → SB 504 Mitigation Discounts — The Financial Link Requires insurers to offer premium discounts to homeowners who complete verified wildfire mitigation work. Compliance has direct financial consequences — in both directions. Read the law → SB 824 + Ins. Code 2644.9 Insurance Non-Renewal & Risk Scores SB 824 limits mass non-renewals after declared disasters. Insurance Code 2644.9 gives you the right to see your insurer’s risk score and dispute it based on mitigation work you’ve completed. Read the law →

All California wildfire laws, regulations, and regional rules are covered in depth in the California Law section →

Official Resources

Find out what applies to your property

These are the official government tools California property owners need to understand their fire hazard designation, jurisdiction, compliance obligations, and insurance situation.

Know your parcel

CAL FIRE FHSZ Viewer Look up your property’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone — High, Very High, or Extreme — by address.
San Diego County Parcel Viewer Find your parcel, verify jurisdiction, and review zoning and ownership information.
CAL FIRE SRA / LRA Map Determine whether your property falls under State or Local Responsibility Area jurisdiction — this determines who enforces your defensible space requirements.

Compliance & inspection

CAL FIRE Defensible Space Self-Assessment CAL FIRE’s official guide to Zone 0, Zone 1, and Zone 2 requirements with a self-assessment checklist.
San Diego County OES — Fire Local fire agency contacts, county-specific requirements, and enforcement information for San Diego properties.
ReadyForWildfire.org CAL FIRE’s public-facing homeowner preparation resource — defensible space, home hardening, and evacuation planning.

Insurance

CDI Wildfire Resources California Department of Insurance — check your insurer’s license status, understand non-renewal rules, and access mitigation discount information.
California FAIR Plan The insurer of last resort for homeowners non-renewed by private carriers. Application, coverage information, and eligibility.
Safer from Wildfires — Discount Program The state framework for earning insurance discounts through verified home hardening and defensible space work.

Law & reference

leginfo.legislature.ca.gov Official source for all California statutory text — every law cited on this site links here.
CPUC Fire Threat Map Utility infrastructure fire threat mapping — relevant for understanding power shutoff zones and utility-related fire risk on your property.
San Diego County Permit Portal If you’re undertaking home hardening or structural work, verify what permits are required before starting.

External links go to official government and agency websites. Links are verified periodically — if a link is broken, search the agency name directly.

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