Los Angeles Seeks Lenient Approach to Wildfire ‘Zone Zero’ Regulations
California’s multiyear effort to establish statewide rules for wildfire preparedness is facing resistance from Los Angeles, as the City Council voted Tuesday to pursue a more flexible version of the proposed “Zone Zero” regulations. The debate centers on how much vegetation residents in high-risk areas should be required to clear around their homes to prevent ember-driven wildfires.
The concept of Zone Zero – the first five feet surrounding a structure – has sparked controversy, with concerns ranging from financial burdens and labor demands to potential damage to urban ecosystems. While wildfire safety advocates emphasize the need for robust preventative measures, critics in Los Angeles argue that a one-size-fits-all approach from Sacramento fails to account for the city’s unique landscape and challenges.
“My motion is to get advice from local experts, from the Fire Department, to actually put something in place that makes sense, that’s rooted in science,” said City Councilmember John Lee, who spearheaded the motion. “Sacramento, unfortunately, doesn’t consult with the largest city in the state — the largest area that deals with wildfires — and so, this is our way of sending a message.”
The state’s Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, tasked with creating the regulations, has acknowledged the need for local input. According to Tony Andersen, executive officer of the board, the agency has actively sought feedback through public meetings, walking tours, and virtual workshops over the past year. However, the process has been fraught with contention, and the original January 1, 2023, deadline for completing the regulations has long passed.
Several cities, including Berkeley and San Diego, have proactively adopted their own regulations, largely mirroring the stricter options under consideration by the state. Los Angeles, however, is charting a different course. The City Council motion states that the lack of clear guidance from the State Board has left the city “in a precarious position” as it attempts to protect residents and property.
The core of the disagreement lies in the treatment of trees and other vegetation within Zone Zero. The state is weighing options ranging from a near-total ban on vegetation to maintaining existing regulations, which allow for a significant amount of greenery. Specifically, one proposal would require residents to trim branches within five feet of a house’s walls and roof, while another would not.
Lee’s motion directs the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) to develop regulations aligned with the most lenient options – those that permit healthy vegetation and do not mandate the removal of tree limbs near homes. This approach follows a report from the LAFD and the city’s Community Forest Advisory Committee, which argued that the Board of Forestry’s draft regulations overstepped the intent of the 2020 law establishing Zone Zero, potentially undermining biodiversity goals and leading to the loss of up to 18% of the urban tree canopy in some neighborhoods.
Fire safety advocates express concern that a more lenient approach could compromise the effectiveness of wildfire prevention efforts. Recent studies have demonstrated that even seemingly healthy vegetation can quickly become flammable under the intense heat of a wildfire. One study examining five major California wildfires found that only 20% of homes with significant vegetation in Zone Zero survived, compared to 37% of homes where vegetation had been cleared.
The statewide regulations, once finalized – expected midyear – are anticipated to supersede any local ordinances deemed significantly more lenient. The Zone Zero regulations will apply to both rural areas served by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and urban areas identified as having “very high” fire hazard, including portions of Silver Lake, Echo Park, Brentwood, and Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles.
While consensus exists on some measures – such as prohibiting wooden fences and removing debris from roofs and gutters – the debate over vegetation underscores the complex challenges of balancing wildfire safety with environmental concerns and the practical realities of urban living. The outcome of this debate will have significant implications for homeowners and the future of California’s wildfire resilience strategy.
