Home › Fences & Gates

Your fence is the first thing the new rules touch

The combustible-fence restriction takes effect immediately when final Zone Zero regulations are adopted. Here's what that means for San Bernardino County fence lines, from cabin lots to foothill tracts.

Quick answer: Under the April 2026 draft, combustible fences attached to structures in Very High hazard zones are restricted immediately upon adoption of the final Zone 0 regulations, expected late 2026. The fix is a noncombustible section or gate in the first 5 feet of the ember-resistant zone. Fence work in California requires a CSLB Class C-13 licensed contractor.

Why fences first

A wood fence is a fuse connected to your house

This county wrote the textbook on the mechanism. When post-fire teams studied the Grass Valley Fire's losses near Lake Arrowhead, the finding was blunt: most of the 174 destroyed homes ignited from embers or from one another, structure to structure, fuel to fuel. A wood fence attached to a wall is a fuse in that chain, whether it's a cedar privacy run in Highland or a split-rail line at a Crestline cabin. That's why the fence rule is one of only two provisions that take effect immediately, alongside new construction.

The common retrofit is smaller than people fear. Replace the final 5 feet where the fence meets the structure with a noncombustible panel or metal gate, and the rest of the run can stay. Costs vary by material and run length, and any quote should come from a licensed contractor after seeing the property. The free assessment is the honest starting point: it tells you how many linear feet are actually in the zone before anyone talks price.

Beyond the fence

Gates, and what Zone 0 means for them

Gates get the same treatment as fencing where they sit in the ember-resistant zone: noncombustible materials in the first 5 feet. A metal pedestrian gate at the house corner is often the single cheapest compliance win on the property. Statewide fencing guidance lives at zonezerofences.com; this page covers how it lands in San Bernardino County.

Questions

Quick answers

Do I have to replace my whole fence?

Usually no. The requirement targets the portion attached to or within 5 feet of the structure. Many homeowners replace the last section with a noncombustible panel or gate and keep the rest. An assessment tells you exactly how much of your run is affected.

What fence materials count as ember-resistant?

Noncombustible materials: steel, aluminum, masonry, and certain composites rated for the application. Standard wood fencing attached to the house is exactly what the immediate-effect restriction targets, and split-rail cedar tying into a mountain cabin counts too.

Who can legally do fence work in California?

A CSLB-licensed contractor. Fencing is Class C-13. Any referral through this site is licensed, and the free assessment is how to start.

Find out what your fence line needs

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 Contractor

Prefer to talk? Call (213) 279-1797