California rule status, Nov 10, 2026: adopted, not in forceRule status, Nov 10, 2026: not in force
Based on your answers
How to measure your 5 feet
Measure straight out from the wall of the house, and from anything attached to it such as a deck or stairs. Mark 5 feet with chalk or a string line, then look at what sits inside that strip: fence panels, posts, gates and gate frames.
The how-to guide walks through it with a checklist. When you know the answer, start again from the first question.
None of this is in force yet: the Board of Forestry adopted the rule on Aug 19, 2026, and it was not in effect when we last checked on Nov 10, 2026.
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