A California policy that’s been delayed amid backlash could force millions of homeowners to rip out flowers, gardens and bushes near their homes to mitigate against the deadly wildfires that tore through the state in recent years.
The policy, dubbed “zone zero,” will apply to some 2 million homeowners in the state and require them to clear plants and other combustible materials within five feet of their homes — even if it means destroying home gardens.
The “zone zero” policy dates back to a 2020 state law, authored by former Glendale assemblymember Laura Friedman and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, that mandated the greenery-free zone and gave the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection until Jan. 1, 2023 to write the regulations.
The state has long blown through that deadline amid furor over the anti-garden policy.
Residents in leafy Berkeley railed against the anti-garden law but ultimately approved new rules that would put homeowners into compliance with the state’s zone zero policy.
“It just feels horrific to anyone who loves nature,” East Bay resident Rhonda Gruska told the San Francisco Chronicle in April. “We care about the plants. We don’t want to rip them out and put in cement.”
Advocates claim the 5 foot perimeter will help protect homes from damage in the event of wildfires.
But homeowner outrage over the draconian new rules have caused disagreements over how strictly to enforce the policy, according to Bloomberg.
Homeowners in the Los Angeles area, including some that lost homes in the Eaton and Palisades fires earlier this year, opposed the rules and contended that well-maintained plants would protect homes and wildlife.
The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection told the Chronicle it plans to finish writing the regulations next year.
“We’ve heard criticism, we’ve heard feedback, we’ve heard support,” Tony Andersen, executive director of the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, told the Chronicle.
The zone zero mandate is expected to take effect in 2029, though the timeline may change.
