The California Board of Forestry is finalizing new rules under AB3074—a 2020 law aimed at improving fire safety through the creation of an “ember-resistant” Zone 0. While fire safety is a shared priority for all of us, the proposed regulations are far more extreme than originally intended and could have serious, lasting consequences for Brentwood homeowners and our community as a whole.

Why This Matters to You

Under the current draft guidelines, homeowners could be required to remove or drastically alter nearly all vegetation within 30 feet of their homes—including the privacy hedges, street buffers, and landscape features that make our neighborhood livable, beautiful, and environmentally friendly. These mandates would:

Erase privacy between homes and along busy streets
Eliminate vegetation that cools the air, filters pollutants, and supports biodiversity
Depress property values with little evidence of increased fire protection
Pave the way for a future of concrete yards and barren lots

And all of this, while the science tells us that vegetation can serve as an ember-catching buffer—not just a fire risk.

We Support Fire Safety – But This Isn’t the Solution

We take fire safety seriously. That’s why BHA hosted Dr. Jon Keeley, the nation’s leading fire ecologist and senior scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey and professor at UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, to speak about what really works in protecting homes. What’s being proposed is not aligned with current fire science—and focuses on rural wildfire models like Paradise, not urban environments like Brentwood or the Palisades.

Shockingly, no environmental impact review (EIR) has been done. The rules are being shaped largely by insurance and state agencies, without sufficient local input or community consultation.

This Is Your Chance to Make a Difference

Take a walk around your home and measure out 30 feet—you’ll see how much of your landscape would be at risk. The time to act is now. Use the link below to send a pre-filled comment letter.
It takes just ONE minute, and your voice could help protect the character and safety of our community. Please copy info@brentwoodhomeowners.org on the email and sign your name before sending.