Guide · fire zones
Patio Covers and Pergolas in Fire Zones
Under §504.11 of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, a patio cover, pergola or trellis within 3 feet of the house must be built of noncombustible or ignition-resistant materials, and the code official can extend that out to 50 feet. An attached cover is always within 3 feet. The separate statewide “Zone 0” rules are not in force.
What changed in 2026
In the 2025 code cycle (effective January 1, 2026), California moved the wildfire construction rules that used to live in Building Code Chapter 7A and Residential Code R337 into a new, standalone code: the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (Chapter 5). If an older handout cites Chapter 7A or R337 for patio covers, the equivalent rule now sits in that code.
What §504.11 says about patio covers
Section 504.11 covers accessory structures attached to or near a building, including patio covers, pergolas, trellises and arbors:
- Within 3 feet of the house: noncombustible or ignition-resistant materials.
- 3 to 50 feet: the local code official may require the same.
- Attached covers are within 3 feet by definition.
The WUI code applies in mapped fire hazard areas. How a city applies it to a new patio cover on an existing home is up to its building official, so ask before you choose materials (CAL FIRE OSFM).
By material
| Material | Within 3 ft of the house | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum (solid, lattice, louvered) | Meets the noncombustible option | Check fabric shades and screens separately. |
| Insulated aluminum panels | Ask for the panel's fire listing | The foam core matters, not just the skins. |
| Fire-retardant-treated lumber (exterior-rated) | Can meet the ignition-resistant option | Must be labeled for exterior use; costs more than standard lumber. |
| Untreated redwood, cedar or fir | Doesn't meet the rule near the house | May work farther out if the code official allows. |
| Vinyl or fabric shade tops | Ask the building department | Often the weak point on an otherwise compliant cover. |
Practical choices for fire-zone lots
Whatever you build, keep gutters on the cover clear of leaves and needles, and don't store firewood or spare cushions under it.
Questions homeowners ask
Is Zone 0 in effect in California?
No. The Board of Forestry adopted emergency Zone 0 regulations in August 2026, then withdrew them from Office of Administrative Law review in early September 2026 to make technical edits. As of October 2026 they are not in force. Check your fire district for any local rules.
Can I build a wood pergola in a Very High fire hazard zone?
Yes, with limits. Within 3 feet of the house it must be ignition-resistant, such as fire-retardant-treated lumber rated for exterior use, and the code official can apply the same rule out to 50 feet. A freestanding pergola farther out may have more flexibility; ask the building department how it applies the code to your lot.
Does an aluminum patio cover meet fire code?
Aluminum is noncombustible, which is one of the two material options §504.11 allows. Check any add-ons, such as fabric shades or a combustible insulated panel core, separately.
How do I know if my house is in a fire hazard zone?
Look up your address on CAL FIRE's Fire Hazard Severity Zone viewer or your fire district's local maps: ConFire for much of central Contra Costa, Moraga-Orinda Fire District for Orinda and Moraga, and the City of Lafayette's fire hazard map page.
Sources
- 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, Chapter 5 (UpCodes)
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal — Building in the Wildland
- CAL FIRE Office of the State Fire Marshal — Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- Contra Costa County Fire Protection District — Local Responsibility Area maps
- Moraga-Orinda Fire District — LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps
- City of Lafayette — Fire Hazard Maps
- Danville San Ramon — Danville among county's 12 cities with Very High fire hazard areas (March 2025)
- PublicCEO — Board of Forestry adopts emergency Zone 0 regulations (September 2026)
- Wildfire LA — Zone 0 regulations withdrawn from OAL review (September 11, 2026)
Checked October 2026. Rules and prices change; confirm with the agency or installer before you rely on them.
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