California wildfire non-renewal or Zone 0 notice? Get the work done and documented before your deadline.
If your insurer sent a non-renewal, a conditional renewal, or an inspection letter citing wildfire risk, California’s Safer from Wildfires rules give you a right to know your wildfire risk score, the mitigation actions that would improve it, and how to appeal. That list is a scope of work. We match you with CSLB-licensed contractors who complete it to CAL FIRE standards and give you the documentation to send back.
What California requires your insurer to tell you
Under the Safer from Wildfires regulation (10 CCR § 2644.9, in effect since 2022), an insurer that uses a wildfire risk score or classification in rating or underwriting must:
- Disclose your property’s wildfire risk score or classification and explain what it means
- Identify the specific mitigation actions that would lower it
- Give you a process to appeal the score, including after you’ve completed mitigation
- Offer premium discounts for qualifying mitigation, both at the property level and the community level
For a non-renewal, California Insurance Code § 678 requires at least 75 days’ written notice, with the reason stated.
If your notice doesn’t include your risk score and the mitigation list, request them in writing. If the insurer won’t provide them, you can file a request for assistance with the California Department of Insurance.
Zone 0: what changed in 2026
California’s core defensible-space law, Public Resources Code § 4291, has required 100 feet of defensible space around structures in State Responsibility Areas for years. The new piece is Zone 0 — the ember-resistant zone within 5 feet of the structure.
On August 19, 2026, the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection approved the final Zone 0 rule text by an 8–0 vote. The rule is not yet enforceable law: it still has to clear Office of Administrative Law review and be filed with the Secretary of State, so there is no statewide effective date yet. Once there is one, implementation phases in over roughly five years and prioritizes education and outreach before enforcement. The rule applies to property owners in State Responsibility Areas and in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within local jurisdictions.
What Zone 0 generally requires within 5 feet of the house, attached decks, and outbuildings:
- No combustible mulch, bark, or wood chips
- No stored firewood, lumber, or combustible outdoor furniture
- No dead or dry vegetation; most live plants removed or replaced with low, well-irrigated species
- Combustible fencing that attaches to the structure replaced or separated
- Hardscape — gravel, pavers, concrete — in place of organic ground cover
Enforcement dates will vary by local fire district. Insurers, however, are already grading properties against Zone 0 in their inspections, which is usually why a homeowner is reading this page.
What’s typically on the list
The mitigation items California insurers cite most often line up with the Safer from Wildfires framework and CAL FIRE’s zone system. They fall into three groups, and each is a different trade.
Defensible space (vegetation)
- Clear Zone 0 (0–5 ft) of all combustibles
- Thin and space vegetation in Zone 1 (5–30 ft); remove ladder fuels
- Reduce fuel loads in Zone 2 (30–100 ft), farther on slopes
- Remove tree limbs within 10 feet of the chimney and overhanging the roof
Structure hardening
- Class A fire-rated roof
- Ember-resistant vents (1/8-inch metal mesh or WUI-listed vents)
- Enclosed eaves; metal gutter guards
- Dual-pane windows with at least one tempered pane
- Noncombustible siding or decking within the ember zone
- 6 inches of noncombustible vertical clearance at the base of exterior walls
Documentation
- Dated before-and-after photos by zone and item
- A written scope tied to the items in your notice or inspection report
- Contractor license number and certificate of insurance
What it costs in California
Costs run higher than in Oregon or Colorado, especially in coastal and foothill counties where disposal and labor rates are steep.
| Work | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Zone 0 conversion (mulch removal, hardscape, plant replacement), typical home | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| Zone 1–2 clearing, standard lot | $2,500 – $8,000 |
| Steep or wooded acre-plus lot | $6,000 – $20,000+ |
| Hazard tree removal (per tree) | $600 – $4,000+ |
| Vent replacement and gutter guards | $600 – $2,500 |
| Deck or siding replacement in the ember zone | $5,000 – $25,000+ |
| Annual maintenance after initial work | 30–50% of initial cost |
Many county Fire Safe Councils run chipper programs and cost-share grants for defensible-space work, and some Resource Conservation Districts reimburse a portion of fuels reduction. Worth applying for — but waitlists frequently run months, and a 75-day non-renewal notice doesn’t wait.
Where we match homeowners in California
Shasta and Tehama Counties — Redding, Anderson, Shingletown, Red Bluff
Butte County — Chico, Paradise, Oroville, Magalia
Nevada and Placer Counties — Grass Valley, Nevada City, Auburn, Truckee
El Dorado County — Placerville, Pollock Pines, El Dorado Hills
Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties — Montecito, Santa Barbara foothills, Ojai
San Diego County backcountry — Ramona, Julian, Alpine, Escondido foothills
Don’t see your county? Submit a request anyway. We’re adding coverage as contractors sign on.
How it works
- Tell us what your notice or inspection report says. The form takes two minutes. Note which items are listed and your deadline.
- Up to three licensed contractors contact you. Each is verified against the Contractors State License Board before they receive your information.
- You choose, the work gets done, and you get the paperwork. Dated photos and a written scope you submit to your insurer, agent, or the FAIR Plan.
There is no cost to homeowners. Contractors pay us a flat referral fee; it doesn’t affect your quote.
Every contractor we match is
- Licensed and active with the California Contractors State License Board (required for any job over $500)
- Carrying general liability insurance
- Able to provide dated before-and-after documentation
- Working to CAL FIRE’s defensible-space guidance and the Board of Forestry’s Zone 0 standard
Frequently asked questions
Will completing the list get my policy renewed?
Nobody can promise that. Under Safer from Wildfires you can appeal your risk score after completing mitigation, and insurers must offer discounts for qualifying work — but underwriting decisions remain the insurer’s. What mitigation does is remove the cited items and give you documentation for the appeal or for shopping new coverage. We don’t contact your insurer, and neither does the contractor.
I’m on the FAIR Plan. Does this help?
Yes. Completed and documented mitigation is what you’ll need to move back to the admitted market when a carrier is writing in your area, and the FAIR Plan itself offers a discount for qualifying hardening.
Is Zone 0 mandatory right now?
Not yet. The Board of Forestry approved the final rule text on August 19, 2026, but it still has to clear Office of Administrative Law review and be filed with the Secretary of State before it becomes enforceable, and no statewide effective date has been set. Once one is, the clearing requirements phase in over about three years and the fencing, decking, and outbuilding requirements over three to five, with local enforcement timelines varying. Whether your insurer expects Zone 0 compliance is a separate question — most already do.
How do I check my fire hazard zone?
CAL FIRE’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone viewer is searchable by address. Insurers key off that designation and their own models, not city limits.
What if I already did some of this work?
Document it before anything else — dated photos of each zone and each hardened item. Under Safer from Wildfires you can submit that documentation and request a score review without waiting for the next renewal.
MitigateMyHouse is an independent referral service. We are not an insurance agency, public adjuster, contractor, or law firm. We do not perform mitigation work, guarantee any insurance outcome, or contact insurers on your behalf. Contractors are independent businesses; verify licensing and insurance directly before signing any contract. Legal references on this page are provided for general information and reflect California law and regulation as we understand them as of [date]; confirm current requirements with the California Department of Insurance and your local fire authority.