Fire Resistant Roof in California: Wildfire Guide

When a wildfire reaches a neighborhood, many homes do not catch fire from a wall of flames. They catch from embers. Wind carries burning bits ahead of the fire, and they land in gutters, slip into vents and settle in the corners of the roof.

That is why a fire resistant roof in California is a system, not a single product. The roof covering matters. So do the vents, the gutters, the eaves and what piles up on top. This guide explains the wildfire roof rules for homes in fire hazard severity zones, what used to be called Chapter 7A, and how hardening your roof can lower what you pay for insurance.

Are you in a fire hazard severity zone?

Start here, because the rules depend on it. The Office of the State Fire Marshal maps fire hazard severity zones as moderate, high or very high. New maps for State Responsibility Areas took effect in 2024, and new maps for Local Responsibility Areas, inside many cities, were released in 2025. Many neighborhoods that were never mapped before are now in a zone.

Source: Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps and viewer

Look up your address on the State Fire Marshal's zone viewer. Your city or county building department can confirm which rules apply to your lot.

What makes a fire resistant roof in California?

Roof coverings are fire tested as assemblies and rated Class A, B or C. Class A is the highest rating for fire resistance. The California Department of Insurance notes that most asphalt shingle, concrete, clay or masonry tile, and metal roofs qualify as Class A, and that wood shake shingles are not Class A rated.

Source: California Department of Insurance, Safer from Wildfires

"Assembly" is the key word. Some products only reach Class A with a specific underlayment or cap sheet under them. Ask your roofer which listed assembly they are installing, and ask for the paperwork. State law requires the installer to give the owner a certification of the roof covering's fire classification, provided by the manufacturer or supplier.

Source: California Health and Safety Code §13132.7(i)

For the basics of Class A and how it fits with Title 24 cool roof rules, see our guide on cool roof and Class A roofing in California.

What does the law require when you re-roof?

State law sets minimum fire ratings for roofs, and they rise with the hazard. In a very high fire hazard severity zone, when more than 50 percent of the total roof area is replaced within any one year period, the entire roof covering must meet the required rating, which is Class A in most cases. The same rating applies to any roof covering used in a repair or alteration there.

Source: California Health and Safety Code §13132.7(a) and (d)

Cities, counties and fire districts can set stricter rules. So the real answer for your house comes from your local building department, through the permit. See do you need a permit to replace a roof in California.

What happened to Chapter 7A?

For years, California's wildfire building rules lived in Chapter 7A of the Building Code and Section R337 of the Residential Code. In the 2025 edition of Title 24, effective January 1, 2026, those rules moved into a new California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, Part 7 of Title 24. Most roofers and building departments still say "Chapter 7A," and the requirements were carried over rather than started from scratch.

Source: California Building Standards Commission, 2025 Title 24 California Code Changes

These rules apply to new buildings in mapped fire hazard zones, and local ordinances may apply them to remodels and re-roofs. Ask your building department which edition and which sections apply to your project.

Wildfire roof details that matter most

The wildfire code goes beyond the shingle or tile. Under the Chapter 7A rules, now in the Wildland-Urban Interface Code, the roof related items include:

• Class A roof assembly installed to its listing and the manufacturer's instructions.
• Closed gaps under the covering. Where a roof profile leaves space between the covering and the deck, as with some tile, the space must be fire stopped or protected with a mineral surfaced cap sheet so embers cannot get in.
• Valley flashing of at least 0.019 inch (No. 26 gauge) corrosion resistant metal over a 36 inch wide cap sheet running the full length of the valley.
• Gutters with a means to keep leaves and debris from building up.
• Ember resistant vents listed by the State Fire Marshal or tested to ASTM E2886. Vents on a sloped roof have openings no smaller than 1/16 inch and no larger than 1/8 inch.

Source: California Residential Code §R337.5 and §R337.6 (2022 edition), as summarized in local building department checklists; now relocated to the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code

Why do vents and gutters matter so much?

A roof can be Class A and still let fire in through an open vent. Attic vents need to breathe, so the goal is to keep embers out without choking the airflow. The Department of Insurance recommends 1/16 to 1/8 inch noncombustible, corrosion resistant metal mesh over exterior vents.

Source: California Department of Insurance, Safer from Wildfires

Gutters are the other weak spot. Dry leaves and pine needles in a gutter are kindling sitting at the roof edge. If you live in a State Responsibility Area, state law already requires you to keep the roof free of leaves, needles and other plant material, and to cut back any part of a tree within 10 feet of a chimney outlet.

Source: California Public Resources Code §4291(a)(2) and (a)(4)

For upkeep tips, see how clogged gutters damage a roof and roof maintenance before winter.

Can a fire resistant roof lower your insurance?

It can help. Under California's Safer from Wildfires regulation, insurers must reflect specific mitigation steps in their rates. Building hardening steps on the list include a Class A fire rated roof, enclosed eaves, fire resistant vents, multipane windows or shutters, and at least 6 inches of noncombustible material at the bottom of exterior walls.

Source: California Code of Regulations, Title 10, §2644.9; California Department of Insurance, Safer from Wildfires

The discount amount is up to each insurer. After the work is done, call your insurer, ask how they verify each item, and keep photos, invoices and the roof classification certificate.

How do you hire a roofer for wildfire hardening?

Wildfire work is detail work. A cheap bid that skips the cap sheet, the valley metal or the vent upgrade can still look fine from the street. Before you sign, run through the checklist in our guide, and:

• Check the California contractor license on the CSLB website and confirm a C-39 roofing classification. See what a C-39 roofing license is.
• Confirm the roofer is licensed and insured, including workers' comp if they have employees. See does your roofer need workers' comp.
• Ask the bid to name the Class A assembly, the underlayment or cap sheet, the valley metal, the vent product and the gutter protection.
• Ask who pulls the permit, and get the classification certificate at the end.
• Be careful with door to door sellers after a fire. See how to spot a storm chaser roofer.

"Which parts of this bid are required for my fire zone, and which are optional upgrades?"

Frequently asked questions

Is a metal roof fire resistant?

Metal roofs commonly qualify as Class A, but the rating depends on the tested assembly. Ask for the listing.

Are wood shake roofs allowed in California?

Wood roof coverings must be approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal, and many fire zones restrict them further. Check with your building department.

Do I have to upgrade my roof if I am newly mapped into a zone?

Generally the rules apply when you build, re-roof or repair. Ask your building department what triggers them for your home.

What is the simplest wildfire step for a roof?

Keep the roof and gutters clear of leaves and needles, especially before fire season.

Where ConFacts fits

A fire resistant roof in California is only as good as the crew that installs it. A ConFacts report builds a sourced background check on California C-39 roofing contractors from public records, including CSLB license status, workers' comp, bond and disciplinary history, and scores them from 0 to 100. Your first report is free, then $7, or 3 for $15. We take no money from contractors. We show you the record, you make the decision.