Home / Fences & Gates
Fences & Gates · Hollywood HillsZone Zero Fence Rules in the Hollywood Hills
The fence is how fire reaches the house
In ember-driven fires, the IBHS research is blunt: a wood fence connected to a structure acts as a wick. Embers land in the fence line, the fence ignites, and flame walks straight to your siding.
Hollywood Hills lots make this worse. Homes on canyon streets like those in the Dell or lower Beachwood often sit close together with wood fencing and gates threading between structures. One burning fence can bridge two houses.
That is why the fence restriction is the one Zone 0 requirement that takes effect immediately at adoption, ahead of every phased deadline.
Fence requirements under Zone 0, by phase
| Situation | Requirement | When |
|---|---|---|
| New fence or gate in the 0-5 ft zone | Must be noncombustible | Immediate at adoption |
| Fire rebuild anywhere in the Very High zone | Full Zone 0 compliance including fencing | Immediate at adoption |
| Existing combustible fence in the zone | Replace the in-zone section | Phase 2 · City of LA sets date, up to 5 years |
| Fence beyond 5 ft from any structure | No Zone 0 requirement (brush clearance still applies) | Ongoing |
Fence questions from the hills
Do I have to tear out my existing wood fence in the Hollywood Hills?
Not immediately. Existing combustible fences fall under Phase 2, replacement on a schedule the City of LA sets, up to 5 years after the regulation is adopted. What changes immediately at adoption is new construction: no new combustible fencing inside the 0-5 ft zone.
Only the last few feet of my fence touch the house. Does the whole fence have to go?
No. The rule targets the portion inside the ember-resistant zone. The standard fix is a noncombustible section, metal, masonry, or a gate, for the final 5 feet where the fence meets the structure, so the fence cannot carry flame to your wall.
My fence is shared with a neighbor on a canyon lot. Who pays?
California's good-neighbor fence law generally presumes shared responsibility for shared fences, but Zone 0 compliance attaches to each owner's structure. If the fence sits within 5 feet of your house, the compliance obligation is yours. Many canyon neighbors split the cost of a noncombustible section since it protects both parcels.
What fence materials count as noncombustible?
Steel, aluminum, wrought iron, masonry, and concrete block all qualify. Vinyl does not: it melts and can ignite. For the classic Hollywood Hills look, powder-coated steel and stucco-faced block are the common replacements for the last five feet.
Find out exactly what your home needs
Free assessment from a CSLB-licensed local contractor. Know where your canyon lot stands before the deadlines do.