California Wildfire State Laws & Regulations

State laws & regulations — California wildfire compliance

The California laws that govern defensible space, home hardening, real estate disclosure, and insurance — explained clearly.

California’s wildfire law framework grew incrementally in response to fire events — each major disaster exposing a gap that the next legislative session moved to close. The result is a body of legislation that is comprehensive but layered. Different laws apply to different situations, different property types, and different points in a property’s lifecycle.

Defensible space & zone requirements

The laws governing what property owners must maintain around their structures — and the zone framework that defines how compliance is measured.

Law PRC 4291 — Defensible Space California’s foundational wildfire law. 100 feet of clearance around structures, three zones, and the enforcement framework that governs routine inspections. Read → Law AB 3074 — Zone 0 Ember-Resistant Zone Adds the 5-foot ember-resistant perimeter to PRC 4291. Addresses the ignition pathway responsible for the majority of structure losses in California wildfires. Read → Law FHSZ Designations The designation framework that underlies most of California’s wildfire law. Moderate, High, and Very High — what each level triggers for compliance, disclosure, and insurance. Read →

Real estate & disclosure

The laws that activate at point of sale — requiring sellers to document defensible space compliance and disclose structural vulnerabilities to buyers.

Law AB 38 — Home Hardening Disclosure Requires defensible space compliance documentation and structural vulnerability disclosure for sellers in High and Very High FHSZ areas. Updated July 2025. Read → Law Civil Code 1102.19 — Point of Sale Defensible Space The specific point-of-sale compliance documentation requirement — who can issue it, the 6-month validity window, and the buyer-seller agreement fallback. Read → Law Chapter 7A — Fire-Resistant Construction Fire-resistant construction requirements for new builds and major renovations in FHSZ areas. The building code standard that governs roofing, vents, eaves, walls, and decks. Read →

Insurance

The laws governing non-renewal protections, wildfire risk scores, mitigation discount rights, and the insurance market framework for California fire-country property owners.

Law SB 824 — Non-Renewal Moratorium Prohibits insurers from non-renewing residential policies in areas covered by a Governor-declared wildfire emergency for one year from the declaration. Read → Law 10 CCR § 2644.9 — Risk Scores & Mitigation Discounts Your right to your wildfire risk score, the formal 30-day appeal and rescore process, and the Safer from Wildfires discount framework insurers must apply. Read → Law SB 504 — Mitigation Discounts Strengthened California’s wildfire mitigation discount framework and its connection to the Safer from Wildfires program and CDI-approved rate filings. Read →

Utility & infrastructure

The laws governing utility wildfire mitigation obligations and the CPUC fire threat mapping system that affects properties in utility-adjacent fire risk areas.

Law AB 1054 — Utility Wildfire Safety & CPUC Fire Threat Map Establishes utility wildfire mitigation plans and the CPUC High Fire Threat District map. The law behind SDG&E’s grid hardening obligations in San Diego County. Read →

Cal Wildfire Defense

Understanding the law is the foundation.

Understanding how the law applies to your specific property — your jurisdiction, your FHSZ designation, your compliance obligations — is what matters in practice. Every property presents differently.

Book a fire-informed assessment →

Pages in this section are written for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Laws, regulations, and agency procedures change. Always verify current requirements directly with the applicable agency or a licensed professional before acting. Last reviewed April 2026.