Dear Neighbors.

Our community’s trees and shrubs are in danger from a proposed state brush clearance regulation known as Zone 0. This new rule would require the removal of nearly all vegetation and any combustible material within 5 feet of structures in the High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and create significant impacts on the shade, heat, biodiversity, and privacy of our neighborhoods at great financial cost and with little provable increase in fire safety.

We are at a critical moment in the fight against Zone 0. The state’s Board of Forestry Zone 0 Advisory Committee is coming to Pasadena this Thursday, September 18th for its first and only SoCal meeting and plans to finalize the regulations shortly thereafter.

In Silver Lake these new regulations would mean the loss of more than 100 acres of trees or 18% of tree canopy. In Echo Park, 16%. Thai Town, 33%. (Click on a neighborhood for canopy-loss data). This would change the character of our neighborhoods and impose unprecedented costs — unless we take action now. We have two avenues to do that.

Action 1: Attend the September 18 public meeting at the Pasadena Convention Center

In-person attendance is preferable, but you can call in as well. A strong public showing is our best hope for stopping this legislation.

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
Time: 10:30 am – 5:00 pm (arrive early for public comment)
Location: Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green Street, Space 106, Pasadena. 

In-person registration: Click here to RSVP
Virtual registration: Join online via Microsoft Teams
Details/flyer: See the official flyer for more details.

Action 2: Join our letter writing campaign

A coalition of civic and homeowner groups, environmentalists, fire safety experts and other concerned individuals is leading the effort to combat these new rules and has composed this letter to submit to the Advisory Committee. Please cut and paste or write a personalized letter reflecting your unique perspective and experience.

Send to: PublicComments@bof.ca.gov

Subject: Opposition to Proposed Zone 0 Regulations

To: California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, Zone Zero Regulatory Advisory Committee

Dear Board Members,

As a concerned California homeowner and resident, I am writing to strongly oppose the adoption of the current draft Zone 0 regulations. If finalized as written, these rules will inflict significant, lasting harm on my household and community—without evidence that they will truly protect us from wildfire.

Why These Regulations Are the Wrong Approach

1. Extreme Financial Hardship for Residents
   The cost to comply with these clearance mandates—including removing mature trees, hedges, and landscaping, plus the expense of repairs and replacements—will require thousands to tens of thousands of dollars per property. Most homeowners, including myself, simply cannot afford these unfunded requirements.
2. Higher Utility Bills for Everyone
   By removing shade and protection from homes, these regulations will make homes hotter and force us to use more air conditioning. This will raise electric bills and increase the strain on the grid for all Californians.
3. Environmental Damage and Habitat Loss
   Stripping out healthy vegetation will destroy tree canopy, privacy, and critical habitat for birds and other wildlife. It will displace or kill countless animals and harm the environment for generations.
4. Increased Fire Risk, Not Less
   Research and credible experts have shown that removing well-maintained, hydrated vegetation can actually increase vulnerability by creating wind tunnels for embers and decreasing moisture near structures. This risks making fires more intense and destructive, not less.
5. Threats to Property Value and Community Stability
   Loss of trees and privacy features will reduce property values and neighborhood appeal. Onerous clearance could trigger local disputes and enforcement conflicts, while unclear guidelines open the door for arbitrary penalties or even foreclosure for those unable to pay.
6. Insurance Chaos
   Ambiguous and excessively strict rules could be weaponized by insurance companies to cancel policies or refuse claims—even for minor or accidental non-compliance. This threatens insurability for responsible homeowners statewide.

What I Urge Instead

• Pause adoption and initiate meaningful public outreach and transparent, science-based review.
• Respect local context: Allow solutions tailored for different communities and landscapes instead of imposing rigid “one-size-fits-all” mandates statewide.
• Focus on proven property maintenance standards and home hardening as effective wildfire defense, not blanket vegetation bans.

Blanket regulations that devastate the environment, impose punishing costs, and increase risk are not the answer to California’s wildfire challenges. Please withdraw these proposed Zone 0 rules and commit to practical, balanced, and evidence-based fire safety policies.

Sincerely,

[Your Name and City]

 

For an overview of the proposed Zone 0 rules and potential impacts, please watch this video presentation by former LA Audubon president, UCLA faculty member, and Urban Ecologist Travis Longcore. Other links of interest: ZoneZeroFacts.org, BrentwoodHomeowners.org.