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The LawWhat Zone 0 Rules Apply in Westlake Village?
Three labels, one honest answer
Required now. Existing California law (Public Resources Code §4291 and Government Code §51182) still applies: roofs and gutters must be kept clear of leaves and needles, and branches within 10 feet of a chimney outlet must be removed.
Proposed — not in force. The statewide Zone 0 draft. AB 3074 directed the state to create an ember-resistant zone, the first five feet around structures. The Board of Forestry approved a final draft on August 19, 2026, and OAL file 2026-0828-03E is listed as withdrawn on September 8, 2026. It has no effective date, and it would apply in State Responsibility Areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones only if it takes effect.
Recommended now. Clearing combustibles from the first five feet, hardening vents, and keeping a 100-foot defensible space (the radius LA County Fire lists as a recommendation) are recommendations, not a Westlake Village requirement we have identified.
See what is in force, proposed, and recommended →Who applies the rules in Westlake Village?
The Los Angeles County Fire Department is the fire authority here. The county's Defensible Space program lists Westlake Village, and the city's wildfire page references LA County Fire. That program lists chimney clearance as required and a 100-foot radius as a recommendation. It does not present Zone 0 as a requirement.
Westlake Village adds a wrinkle few cities have: the community it anchors is split by a county line. If your parcel is in the City of Westlake Village, LA County Fire is your fire authority. A neighbor two streets away in Thousand Oaks answers to Ventura County Fire. Confirm with LA County Fire and the city before acting on any deadline.
Regulation questions, answered
Is Zone 0 a statewide law in California?
Not in force. AB 3074 directed the state to create an ember-resistant zone. The Board of Forestry approved a final draft on August 19, 2026, but OAL file 2026-0828-03E is listed as withdrawn on September 8, 2026. As of September 19, 2026 there is no statewide Zone 0 regulation in force in California. The draft has no effective date.
Is Zone 0 required in Westlake Village?
As of September 19, 2026 we have not identified a local Zone 0 ordinance for Westlake Village. The statewide draft is Proposed — not in force. Required now is existing defensible-space law. This is not a finding that no rule exists here. Confirm with LA County Fire and the city before acting on any deadline.
Which law started the 0-5 foot idea?
AB 3074 (2020) directed the state to create an ember-resistant zone covering the first five feet around structures. Implementing regulations are what would make it enforceable, and none are in force as of September 19, 2026.
Who do I check with about my parcel?
The Los Angeles County Fire Department is the fire authority for Westlake Village, and the city can confirm any local rule. We have not identified a local Zone 0 ordinance, and the statewide draft is Proposed — not in force. Confirm with LA County Fire and the city before acting on any deadline.
My home is on the Ventura County side of Westlake. Does this page apply?
No. This site covers the Los Angeles County city of Westlake Village. The Westlake neighborhoods inside Thousand Oaks, including North Ranch, are under the Ventura County Fire Department and are covered by our sibling site, Zone Zero Ventura.
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