Home / Landscaping

The First Five Feet, Planted Right

Do I Have to Change My Landscaping for Zone 0 in Agoura Hills?

Not for Zone 0, as far as we have identified. As of September 19, 2026 no Zone 0 landscaping rule is in force for Agoura Hills, and the statewide draft is Proposed — not in force. Recommended now: in the first 5 feet, no combustible mulch, no dead material, no resinous shrubs. Hardscape and low, irrigated plantings take their place. Existing defensible-space law is Required now.
What We Recommend

What to move out of the first five feet

The goal is removing what embers can light. Bark mulch against the stem wall, a dead rosemary hedge, firewood stacked under the eave: these are the ignition points that burned homes across the Woolsey footprint from the ground up.

The replacement palette is already native to this valley: decomposed granite, river rock, flagstone, and the low sage-and-succulent look the Santa Monica Mountains do naturally. Done well, a Zone 0 yard reads as a design upgrade, not a compliance scar.

Agoura Hills grew up around its oaks. Nothing we have identified requires removing a mature tree for Zone 0. Well-maintained trees are managed, limbed, and cleaned, not clear-cut. Verify specifics with the city and LA County Fire before removing anything large.

Safer and riskier, 0-5 ft (Recommended now)

Gravel, DG, pavers, stoneSafer
Low, irrigated, maintained plantingsLimited
Bark mulch and wood chipsAvoid
Dead or dry vegetationAvoid
Juniper, rosemary, resinous shrubsAvoid
Firewood and lumber storageAvoid
Wood planter boxes on the wallAvoid
Required now

Keep roofs and gutters clear

Existing law (PRC §4291, Gov. Code §51182) calls for roofs and gutters clear of leaves and needles, and branches within 10 feet of a chimney outlet removed.

Recommended now

Mind the oak litter

Live oaks are keepers, but their leaf drop is kindling. Rake the first five feet seasonally and keep gutters and corners clear, especially before Santa Ana season.

Recommended now

Irrigation keeps greenery green

Whatever greenery remains in the band is safer if it stays green. A drip line on the survivors helps keep a planting from becoming fuel.

Common Questions

Landscaping questions, answered locally

Do I have to remove my oak tree?

Not because of Zone 0. No Zone 0 rule is in force for Agoura Hills that we have identified, and the statewide draft is Proposed — not in force. For oaks, the practical concern is limbs over the roof and litter in the first five feet, not the tree itself. Verify with the city and LA County Fire before removing anything large.

What about mulch beds against the house?

Recommended now: swap combustible mulch, bark, and wood chips in the 0-5 ft band for gravel, decomposed granite, pavers, or bare soil. No Zone 0 rule in force requires it today.

Can anything green stay in the first five feet?

Nothing in force restricts it under Zone 0. As a practice, low, well-irrigated, well-maintained plantings are safer than dead material and resinous shrubs like juniper. Treat anything you would not press your hand against on a hot day as suspect.

Who checks my landscaping in Agoura Hills?

The Los Angeles County Fire Department runs the Defensible Space program that covers Agoura Hills. That program lists chimney clearance as required and a 100-foot defensible-space radius as a recommendation. It does not use Zone 0 as a requirement.

See what your first five feet need

Send a request and the team will follow up by email about your 0-5 ft zone.

Request an inspection Questions? Talk to an agent: (213) 279-1931 Calls are answered by an automated AI assistant and may be recorded and transcribed.