Homebuyer education booklets
California government agencies publish these booklets to educate buyers and sellers about natural hazards. They are referenced in your Natural Hazard Disclosure report. Each is the official booklet, hosted here as a downloadable PDF.
Residential
- A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your HomeU.S. Environmental Protection Agency: mold and moisture homeowner guide.
- What Is Your Home Energy Rating?California: Home Energy Rating System (HERS) information booklet.
- The Homeowner's Guide to Earthquake Safety (2020)California Seismic Safety Commission: the statutory earthquake-safety disclosure booklet.
- Protect Your Family from Lead in Your HomeU.S. Environmental Protection Agency: lead-based-paint disclosure booklet.
- Residential Environmental Hazards: A Guide for Homeowners, Homebuyers, Landlords, and TenantsCalifornia Department of Real Estate (RE 52): environmental-hazard education guide.
Commercial
Included with a commercial disclosure in place of the residential earthquake and environmental guides.
Zone 0: the five feet around a home (informational)
Zone 0 is the area within five feet of a home and its attached decks, stairs and porches. It is aimed at embers, which cause most homes lost to wildfire, and limits what can burn right next to the house.
The State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection adopted Zone 0 on August 19, 2026, but it is not yet in effect. It is still under state review and may change before it takes effect. Some local agencies are beginning to adopt their own rules.
Only CAL FIRE or your local fire agency can inspect a property or certify its defensible space.
A FortressFire Wildfire Report can assess this property's defensible space, including Zone 0.
Looking for your own report? Use the link in the email it arrived in. If you cannot find it, contact the company that issued the report. Their name and website are printed in the footer of every page.