California Advances Wildfire Mitigation with Senate Bill 326 and Zone 0

California faces the highest wildfire risk in the United States, contributing significantly to increased electricity and home insurance costs. Since 2017, the state has experienced multiple devastating wildfires, prompting efforts to enhance wildfire prevention and community protection. California has developed one of the nation’s most advanced firefighting forces and implements strategies aimed at risk reduction and safeguarding homes.

Senate Bill 326 (SB 326), co-authored by state senators, seeks to accelerate the implementation of “Zone 0,” a wildfire mitigation measure requiring the removal of all combustible materials within five feet of residences. This buffer zone reduces the likelihood of homes catching fire during wildfires. The bill would require immediate compliance for rental properties and compliance at the point of sale for owner-occupied homes, shortening the timeline from three years under current law.

SB 326 also allocates funding to counties to support rapid and effective adoption of these regulations. This initiative aligns with broader state efforts to strengthen wildfire resilience by integrating scientific risk assessments into regulatory frameworks. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and the State Fire Marshal are tasked with developing planning frameworks and annual reporting systems to monitor wildfire risk dynamically and evaluate mitigation outcomes.

This legislation marks a significant development in California’s approach to wildfire risk management, incorporating utility, community, and homeowner investments into comprehensive planning. By establishing real-time risk measurement, California aims to enhance accountability and demonstrate the effectiveness of mitigation strategies over time.

SB 326 complements the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force's work and aims to transform wildfire prevention efforts by learning from past wildfire events. The bill underscored a shift toward outcomes-driven wildfire policy fostering improved planning, execution, and accountability in reducing wildfire losses for homeowners, insurers, and communities.