What Is Zone Zero?
Updated 2026 · 6 min read
Zone Zero is the five-foot band around a structure — the area where landed embers most often start the chain of events that ignites a home.
The definition
Zone Zero refers to the first five feet measured horizontally outward from the exterior walls of a structure, including the ground beneath attached decks and stairs. It is sometimes called the ember-resistant zone.
Why five feet
Embers ride the wind, slow as they hit the building, and settle where the airflow drops: against walls, in corners, in landscape beds and under decks. Anything combustible in that band burns directly against the structure, delivering flame and heat to siding, windows and vents at the same time.
What generally does not belong in Zone Zero
- Bark and wood-chip mulch
- Shrubs, vines and dense plantings against walls
- Firewood, lumber and construction materials
- Trash and recycling bins
- Combustible patio furniture, doormats and planters
- Stored items under decks and stairs
- Accumulated leaf and needle litter
What works better
- Gravel, decomposed granite, stone or pavers
- Bare, maintained soil
- Widely spaced, well-irrigated low plantings placed outside the five feet
- Noncombustible planters and furnishings
Rules vary — check locally
Requirements and guidance differ by jurisdiction and change over time. A local professional or your fire authority can tell you what currently applies to your property. This page is general information, not a statement of any specific legal requirement.
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