Zone Zero Fence Rules in Burbank
A wood fence is a fuse that ends at your wall
Fire researchers at IBHS have shown it repeatedly: a burning wood fence attached to a house delivers flame directly to the siding. Embers do not need to reach your home if they can reach your fence.
Burbank's hillside streets make this concrete. Homes above Sunset Canyon Boulevard and along Country Club Drive sit on compact lots where fence lines run within arm's reach of walls, and the Verdugo slopes rise directly behind them.
That is why the fence rule is the strictest part of Zone 0: no new combustible fences in the first 5 feet once regulations adopt, with existing fences replaced in Phase 2.
What Zone 0 says about fences and gates
New fences
No new combustible fence may be built within the 0-5 ft zone once the final regulations adopt. This applies from day one, with no phase-in.
Existing fences
Combustible fences and gates already in the zone get replaced on the local schedule. Burbank sets it, up to 5 years after adoption.
Do the 5-foot section now
Replacing the section nearest the house today removes the single biggest ember pathway without waiting for a deadline.
| Material | In the first 5 ft | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steel, aluminum, wrought iron | Complies | The standard hillside retrofit; gates included |
| Masonry, concrete block | Complies | Doubles as a radiant heat shield |
| Wood, cedar, redwood | Restricted | The material the rule exists to move away from structures |
| Vinyl, composite | Depends on rating | Wait for the final standard before buying; many products deform or ignite |
Burbank fence questions
Do I have to tear out my whole wood fence in Burbank?
No. Zone Zero regulates the portion of fence within 5 feet of a structure. The common fix is a noncombustible section, metal or masonry, where the fence meets the house, so the fence stops acting as a fuse to your wall.
When does the fence rule start in Burbank?
The new-fence restriction is immediate once the state's final regulations adopt, expected late 2026. Replacement of existing combustible fences in the zone is Phase 2, and Burbank, as the local Authority Having Jurisdiction, sets that schedule, up to 5 years after adoption.
Why do fences matter so much on Burbank's hillside streets?
Because a wood fence is a horizontal fuse. During the 2017 La Tuna Fire, embers crossing the Verdugo ridge threatened homes along streets like Verdugo Crestline Drive, where structures and fences sit close together. A fence that ignites carries fire directly to the wall it touches.
What fence materials will comply in the first 5 feet?
Noncombustible materials: steel, aluminum, wrought iron, masonry, and concrete block. The final regulations will define the exact standard; the draft points clearly at noncombustible construction for the section inside the ember-resistant zone.
Get your fence line assessed for free
A licensed contractor walks your fence line, flags what the rule will touch, and quotes the fix. Free, no obligation.