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California Wildfire Home Articles & Guides (2026)
Laws, inspections, insurance and retrofits.
California Wildfire Laws New in 2026AB 888, SB 429 and AB 1: signed October 2025, in force in 2026 — what changed for homeowners.Read the guide 
Zone 0: The Ember-Resistant First 5 FeetWhat the 0–5 ft ember-resistant zone means for homes on SRA land and in locally designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.Read the guide 
Defensible Space Inspections: What Inspectors CheckHow CAL FIRE and county fire agencies inspect under PRC 4291, what fails, and what happens if you don't comply.Read the guide 
AB-38: Selling a Home in a Fire Hazard ZoneThe inspection and disclosure documentation sellers must provide, what it costs, and how to get compliant before listing.Read the guide 
IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home CertificationWhat the voluntary IBHS designation requires, the $125 application fee and full lifecycle cost, and which insurers reward it.Read the guide 
Insurance Discounts for Home HardeningHow the Safer from Wildfires framework and FAIR Plan discounts reward mitigation work.Read the guide 
Ember-Resistant VentsWhat the WUI code requires of vents, installed cost per vent, and the OSFM-listed products.Read the guide 
Class A Roof RequirementsThe Class A assembly rating, the 50% reroof rule that reaches existing homes, and cost per square foot.Read the guide 
Fire-Resistant SidingNoncombustible and ignition-resistant wall options, what code requires, and re-siding costs.Read the guide 
Fire-Resistant Windows & Tempered GlassWhy dual-pane with one tempered pane is the code path, and what window replacement costs.Read the guide
About these guides
California's wildfire rules for homeowners span defensible space law (PRC 4291), disclosure at sale (AB-38), building standards and insurance regulation. These guides explain each in plain English — what applies to you, by when, and what it costs to comply.