Fences and Gates

What it is.

Any fence, gate, trellis, arbour, or screen that runs up to the house or stands within five feet of it, including the section that physically attaches to the wall.

Why it matters.

A wooden fence is a continuous line of dry fuel laid across the ground, and it often ends at the building. Fire that starts anywhere along it has a direct, uninterrupted path to the wall, which is why a fence can deliver fire to a house that would otherwise have been out of reach.

What good looks like.

The last five feet before the house built from noncombustible material such as metal or masonry, or a gap in the run so the fence does not touch the building at all.

How it is judged.

No building-code test standard exists for fences. The requirement comes from insurance. 10 CCR 2644.9(d)(1)(B)1.c names fences and gates explicitly, so this is credited by carriers even though there is no assembly test behind it.

What we will ask you.

"Does any fence or gate attach to your house or come within five feet of it, and what is that section made of?"

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