Garage Doors in California

California's Building Code Chapter 7A applies in the state's Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Hazard Severity Zones — areas mapped by CAL FIRE that cover large stretches of the foothills and canyons ringing cities from San Diego to Redding — and it treats garage doors as a distinct ember-intrusion risk, not just another entry point for flame. Section 708A.4 requires that gaps around a garage door's perimeter, at the top, sides, and bottom, be no wider than 1/8 inch so wind-blown embers can't work their way inside during a wildfire, and the door's exterior surface has to be noncombustible or documented ignition-resistant material tested to standard SFM 12-7A-2; wood doors are barred outright in these zones unless they carry a fire-retardant treatment and pass that testing. For homeowners buying, remodeling, or replacing an aging door in a mapped WUI zone, meeting that code is often a condition of getting a permit signed off, not an optional upgrade. Call +1 (844) 528-1651 to describe what you're dealing with in California, and we'll help connect you with an independent local provider who covers your area, when service is available.