Zone 0 is the first 5 feet around a house, and the safest approach is to make it out of materials that cannot burn: concrete, pavers, brick, gravel and bare mineral soil, with no wood mulch, no wood fences touching the wall and no stored combustibles. Embers are what ignite most homes in a wildfire, and this strip is where they land and collect against the wall. This guide shows how to build the strip from stocked noncombustible materials for a Los Angeles house, and what to confirm with your local fire and building authorities first.
What goes in the first 5 feet?
Keep it simple: hard surface or gravel against the wall, and nothing that can catch an ember. Rules for Zone 0 are still being rolled out in California and differ by jurisdiction and project type, so confirm requirements with Los Angeles Building and Safety or your local fire authority before you order. The table sorts the materials we stock by job.
| Material |
Zone 0 job |
Fire behavior |
Good for |
| Concrete pavers |
Walkways, patios |
Noncombustible |
Entry paths |
| Brick pavers |
Edging, paths |
Noncombustible |
Foundation borders |
| Gravel and pea gravel |
Ground cover |
Noncombustible |
Planting beds |
| Concrete mix |
Slab, curb strip |
Noncombustible |
Wall-side aprons |
| Wood mulch |
Avoid here |
Burns, holds embers |
Beyond 5 feet |
Replace wood mulch with gravel
Wood mulch is the most common fuel against a stucco or siding wall. In the first 5 feet, swap it for rock. Our pea gravel in 0.5 cu. ft. bags covers about 1.98 sq. ft. at 3 in. depth, and its product notes list resistance to wood pests such as termites and ants, which wood mulch attracts. For a cleaner look, the 1/4 in. to 1/2 in. white landscape rock and the black gravel are uniform in size and help retain soil moisture, limit weeds and control erosion. Browse the full landscape rocks collection, and use our landscape rock coverage guide to work out bag counts.
Where mulch can still go
Wood mulch and bark are fine farther out in the yard. Our fall planting guide covers soil and mulch for water-wise beds; just keep those beds beyond the 5 foot line.
Build a hard-surface apron with pavers
A paver strip against the wall gives you a stable noncombustible surface and a clear path around the house. The 4 in. x 7-3/4 in. tan concrete paver is dry-cast concrete in a simple interlocking shape; its notes say it is not rated for vehicle traffic, so it suits walkways and patios. The 12 in. x 12 in. pewter stepping stone is a quick way to lay a path across gravel. The red clay paver brick is rated for pedestrian areas and light vehicle traffic, and each pallet covers 128 sq. ft. See the whole pavers collection.
Base and joints
Set pavers over compacted base with a leveling layer. All-purpose sand is listed as an underlayment for brick pavers and flagstone, and paver sand works for leveling and joints. The sand, gravel and base rock guide explains which aggregate goes under what.
Pour a concrete strip where you need a solid edge
For a continuous noncombustible band around the foundation, a poured strip is the simplest answer. Concrete Mix PSI-4000 (60 lb.) is a general-purpose mix for sidewalks, steps, walkways and footings. Use the bag count guide to size the order and the concrete sealers guide to finish it.
Do not forget the wall itself
A clean ground zone only works if the wall can resist embers too. Our fire-hardening guide covers Type X drywall, stucco and cement board, and the siding comparison shows how fiber cement stacks up against wood. Pair this guide with the rain-ready checklist, because a gravel apron also helps drain water away from the foundation.
Zone 0 checklist
- Confirm current Zone 0 requirements with your local fire and building authority
- Remove wood mulch, bark and dead plants from the first 5 feet
- Install gravel or pavers against the wall
- Keep wood fences, decks and stored items off the wall line
- Use noncombustible edging such as brick or concrete
- Check that vents, siding and trim near the ground resist embers
Conclusions
Make the first 5 feet hard and mineral: gravel or pavers against the wall, a concrete strip where you want a solid edge, and wood mulch moved farther out. Order the rock, pavers, sand and concrete together, and verify local rules before you build.
