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The First Five FeetDo I Have to Change My Landscaping for Zone 0 in Westlake Village?
The first five feet is a materials question, not a scorched-earth one
The point of the first five feet is simple: when embers land there, nothing should catch. That is a materials question. Bark mulch, dead leaves in the side yard, a juniper pressed against the stucco: those catch. Gravel, pavers, succulents in irrigated beds: those do not.
Westlake Village's landscape was planned before it was planted. Greenbelts, parkway trees, and HOA-maintained slopes are part of the original 1960s master plan, and most front yards here are already low-fuel by design. For many homes, clearing the first five feet is a weekend of swaps at the foundation line, not a redesign.
The honest caveat: the statewide draft is not in force and has no effective date. Which living plants would be allowed in the zone is the part most likely to change, so treat any plant list as a recommendation, not a rule. We track it.
What is in force, proposed, and recommended →Clear the movables
Mulch, dead plants, stored items, firewood: movable combustibles are the easiest to remove first. Not a Westlake Village requirement we have identified; the statewide draft is Proposed — not in force.
Mind the lake breeze
Santa Ana winds funnel through the Conejo grade and the canyons above the city. Wind-side beds, usually north and east exposures, deserve the first pass.
Work with the HOA palette
Many HOAs keep approved plant lists. Check your HOA's list before converting the first five feet.
Landscaping questions, answered
Is Zone 0 landscaping required in Westlake Village?
As of September 19, 2026 we have not identified a local Zone 0 ordinance for Westlake Village. No statewide Zone 0 regulation is in force. Clearing the first five feet is Recommended now. Confirm with LA County Fire and the city before acting on any deadline.
Do I have to remove every plant within 5 feet of my house?
Not under any Zone 0 rule we have identified. As a recommendation, start with combustible material: dead vegetation, woody shrubs against siding, and bark mulch. Well-irrigated, low-growing plantings and noncombustible ground covers like rock, gravel, and pavers are lower-risk choices.
What about my mature trees?
Verify before cutting anything large. Sensible steps are limbing up, keeping clearance over the roof, and removing litter. Existing law requires branches within 10 feet of a chimney outlet to be removed. Confirm with LA County Fire and your HOA before removing a healthy mature tree.
Should I remove bark mulch from the first five feet?
Recommended now. Bark mulch can ignite from embers and hold fire against the foundation line. Swap it for rock, decomposed granite, or pavers in that band; keep organic mulch for beds beyond 5 feet. This is a recommendation, not a Westlake Village Zone 0 requirement we have identified.
Who is the fire authority for landscaping questions in Westlake Village?
The Los Angeles County Fire Department. Its Defensible Space program lists Westlake Village. The program lists chimney clearance as required and a 100-foot defensible-space radius as a recommendation. It does not present Zone 0 as a requirement.
Have a question about your property?
Send a request and the team will follow up by email.