Home › Deadlines
The compliance timeline for the ember-resistant zone runs in phases, and this county's fire district has already put the new maps on the books.
The timeline
| Requirement | Status | Applies |
|---|---|---|
| New FHSZ maps designated in county fire's jurisdiction | In effect | Since Ordinance No. 4489, adopted June 10, 2025 |
| Zone 0 for new construction (statewide) | Immediate | Upon adoption of final regulations, expected late 2026 |
| Combustible fence restriction (attached to structures) | Immediate | Upon adoption; plan replacements to the ember-resistant standard now |
| Existing homes, first wave | Phase 1 | Estimated 2027 to 2028 |
| Existing homes, local schedule | Phase 2 | Set by your AHJ, up to 5 years after adoption |
| Voluntary early compliance | Best practice | Any time; Santa Ana wind events don't consult the calendar |
Your jurisdiction sets the specifics. County fire covers most of the mountains and the city of San Bernardino; CAL FIRE serves Highland and Yucaipa under contract; Running Springs, Big Bear, Redlands, and Rancho Cucamonga field their own departments. To be precise: this county has not adopted a separate, earlier mandatory Zone 0 deadline, and we won't claim one. What it has done is formally put the new hazard maps on the books.
Questions
There is no single date yet. Final state regulations are expected in late 2026. Phase 1 for existing homes is currently estimated for 2027 to 2028, and Phase 2 is set by your local fire authority, which can extend up to five years. San Bernardino County has not adopted its own earlier mandatory deadline; what county fire has done is adopt the new hazard maps themselves, by Ordinance 4489 in June 2025.
Two, upon adoption of the final regulations: the restriction on combustible fences attached to structures, and Zone 0 requirements for new construction. New construction in the newly mapped zones already faces Chapter 7A building standards where local adoptions have taken effect.
The state framework is the same, but your Authority Having Jurisdiction sets the specifics, and this county has many: county fire for most of the mountains and the city of San Bernardino, CAL FIRE contracts in Highland and Yucaipa, and independent departments in Running Springs, Big Bear, Redlands, and Rancho Cucamonga. Your community page names yours.
A free assessment tells you exactly which Zone Zero requirements apply to your parcel, what your local fire authority will look for, and what to fix first. 100% free, no obligation.
Connect with a Licensed ContractorPrefer to talk? Call (213) 279-1797