FAQs
Does this affect my homeowner’s insurance?
CAL FIRE’s maps are intended to drive local planning decisions, not insurance decisions. Under Commissioner Lara’s new regulation finalized in October 2022, insurance companies must provide discounts for wildfire safety actions such as community mitigation and home-hardening, which CAL FIRE’s maps do not assess. In addition, insurance companies are already using risk analysis tools and models that go beyond CAL FIRE’s proposed maps in determining what properties they will underwrite.
Commissioner Lara’s new wildfire safety regulation will help increase access to insurance by promoting wildfire safety across the state. Reducing wildfire risks throughout the state is the primary way we can make insurance more available and affordable, and our regulation is a major step towards that goal. CAL FIRE’s maps support that goal through improving public education about hazard and the need for safety preparation.
For more information, download California Department of Insurance FAQ [PDF] or visit the California Department of Insurance FAQ webpage.
What is a Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map?
My property is identified as being in a “High” FHSZ. What does this mean?
Properties identified as being in a “High” FHSZ are required to prep their property with defensible space mitigation efforts, are required to complete a Hazard Inspection & Disclosure when transferring the property, and new constructions & remodeling projects shall comply with California Building Code, Chapter 7A.
My property is identified as being in a “Moderate” FHSZ. What does this mean?
Properties identified as being in a “High” FHSZ are required to prep their property with defensible space mitigation efforts.
My property is not identified as being in a FHSZ. What does this mean?
Your property has not been identified by CAL FIRE as residing within a FHSZ. However, all property owners within the City of Rocklin are still required maintain defensible space mitigation efforts, regardless of FHSZ designation.
Within my property parcel lines, there are two or more identified FHSZs. What FHSZs to I need to adhere to?
Properties with two or more FHSZs within a given parcel are subject to the most restrictive FHSZ designation.
What is Local Responsibility Area or LRA?
Local Responsibility Areas (LA) are incorporated cities, urban regions, agriculture lands, and portions of the desert where the local government is responsible for wildfire protection. This is typically provided by city fire departments, fire protection districts, counties, and by CAL FIRE under contract.
When did Fire Hazard Severity Zones begin in Local Responsibility Area?
Assembly Bill 337 (Bates, 1992) prompted by the devastating Oakland Hills Fire of 1991, calls for CAL FIRE to evaluate fire hazard severity in Local Responsibility Area and to make a recommendation to the local jurisdiction where Very High FHSZ exist. Government Code 51175 then provides direction for the local jurisdiction to take appropriate action.
How are Fire Hazard Severity Zones determined in Local Responsibility Areas?
CAL FIRE uses an extension of the State Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone model as the basis for evaluating fire hazard in Local Responsibility Area. The Local Responsibility Area hazard rating reflects flame and ember intrusion from adjacent wildlands and from flammable vegetation in the urban area.
What are the requirements for landowners in Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas?
California’s WUl building codes (CBC Chapter 7A) apply to the design and construction of new buildings located in High and Very require ignition resistant construction for remodel projects. Check with your local building department to determine which ignition resistant building codes apply to your project. In addition, Government Code Section 51182 calls for defensible space clearance and other wildland fire safety practices for buildings. Owners are also required to make a natural hazard disclosure as part of a real estate transfer. For information regarding home hardening and defensible space clearance, visit www.readyforwildfire.org.
What is the process for developing Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the Local Responsibility Area?
CAL FIRE uses the same modeling data that is used to map the State Responsibility Area. The department works with local jurisdictions for validation of the mapping. The map, along with a model ordinance, are then sent to the governing body for adoption.
Why haven’t Moderate and High Fire Hazard Severity Zone classes been classified before in the Local Responsibility Area?
New legislation, Senate Bill 63 (Stern, 2021), now requires the adoption of all three Fire Hazard Severity Zone classes in the Local Responsibility Area. Previously only Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones were required for adoption in Local Responsibility Areas.
What is the difference between the various Fire Hazard Severity Zones?
Classification outside of wildland areas is based on the fire hazard of the adjacent wildland and the probability of flames and embers threatening buildings.
Why is my property in a different zone than the adjacent area, which looks similar?
In non-wildland areas, zone edges occur based on distance to the wildland edge. Because hazard in these areas is largely determined by incoming embers from adjacent wildland, urban areas that are similar in vegetation type and housing density may have a change in FHSZ class as the distance to the wildland edge increases. Areas immediately adjacent to wildland receive the same FHSZ score as that wildland where fire originates, and the model then produces lower scores as the distance to wildland edge increases.
For additional information, download the Fire Hazard Severity Zones Local Responsibility Area Factsheet [PDF]