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There is no 2027 to 2028 statewide clock. Local status uses three labels: Required now, Proposed — not in force, Recommended now.
The timeline
| Requirement | Status | Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Existing defensible space (PRC 4291 / Gov. Code 51182) and local fuel-mod rules | Required now | Already in force: roofs, gutters, and local defensible space |
| OCFA Vegetation Management Guideline C-05 Immediate Zone | Required now | New-construction fuel-modification plan review in OCFA territory (Jan 1, 2026). Not a countywide existing-home ordinance. |
| Statewide Zone 0 (AB 3074 implementing regulation) | Proposed — not in force | OAL 2026-0828-03E withdrawn September 8, 2026. No 2027 to 2028 statewide clock. |
| OCFA Immediate Zone flyer (Dec 2025) and the first five feet for existing homes | Recommended now | Education and guidance, not Required now for existing homes |
| Trash/recycling containers and outdoor cushions in the first 5 feet | Recommended now | Unsourced as a local mandate; still high-leverage prevention |
Your jurisdiction sets the specifics. OCFA serves most Orange County cities and all of the unincorporated canyons. Anaheim, Placentia, Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, and Huntington Beach each run their own fire departments. Verify with the department directly before making decisions. Source: OCFA C-05, https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/-/media/ffa300221daf4a718e21210e641075c3.ashx
Questions
As of September 19, 2026 there is no statewide Zone 0 regulation in force. The Board of Forestry emergency filing (OAL 2026-0828-03E) was withdrawn September 8, 2026. AB 3074 directed the state to create an ember-resistant zone; that is not a current statewide rule requiring Zone 0 to be kept clear. Existing defensible-space law still applies: PRC section 4291 and Government Code section 51182, plus local defensible-space rules. There is no 2027 to 2028 statewide clock. Your fire authority (OCFA or a municipal department) sets what is actually required locally.
Required now: existing defensible space, and OCFA C-05 Immediate Zone for new-construction fuel-modification plans in OCFA territory. Proposed — not in force: statewide Zone 0. Recommended now: the first five feet around existing homes, including unsourced items such as trash containers and outdoor cushions.
Yes. OCFA Guideline C-05 is a plan-review rule in OCFA territory. Anaheim, Placentia, Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, and Huntington Beach are independent departments and are not OCFA. Statewide Zone 0 is Proposed — not in force for all of them.
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