Fire Hazard Severity Zones

Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map

Current Building and Defensible Space Standards in Atascadero

All construction and vegetation management activities in Atascadero must comply with Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building standards and state-mandated defensible space requirements in areas designated as fire-prone.

Properties located within these designated zones are subject to:

• WUI Building Standards per Chapter 7A of the California Building Code (CBC) and Section R337 of the California Residential Code (CRC). These standards apply to new construction and include ignition-resistant construction requirements such as ember-resistant vents, Class A roofing, non-combustible exterior walls and decking materials, and other measures that reduce structural vulnerability to wildfire.
• Defensible Space Requirements for New Construction per Chapter 49 of the California Fire Code (CFC), which require the establishment and maintenance of a fuel modification zone around structures. This includes removal or reduction of flammable vegetation, spacing of trees and shrubs, and the use of fire-resistant landscaping.

These standards are currently in effect within all areas shown on the updated map. Property owners and builders are encouraged to consult the map and applicable codes to determine compliance requirements for their parcels.

Key Takeaways:

• FHSZ Classification: Properties are categorized as Moderate, High, or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones based on terrain, vegetation, fire history, and climate conditions.
• Fire Hazard vs. Risk: The maps indicate hazard potential, not immediate risk, and do not account for mitigation efforts like defensible space or fire-resistant construction.
• Impact on Property Owners:
  • Homeowners in Very High FHSZ must comply with stringent defensible space and home hardening requirements.
  • 100-foot defensible space clearance is mandatory around structures in these zones.
  • New construction and renovations in designated zones must adhere to Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building codes.
  • Property sellers must disclose FHSZ designations during real estate transactions.

Legislative Updates:

• California Government Code Section 51178 requires the State Fire Marshal to designate areas as moderate, high, or very high fire hazard severity zones using consistent statewide criteria based on factors such as fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and wind conditions.
• California Government Code Section 51178.5 requires local agencies to make newly identified fire hazard severity zones publicly available for review and comment within 30 days of receiving the information from the State Fire Marshal, using clear and accessible formats such as maps.
• California Government Code Section 51179 requires local agencies to adopt fire hazard severity zone designations by ordinance within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal, allows them to increase—but not decrease—zone severity levels based on local findings, and mandates public notice, ordinance submission, and map posting requirements to ensure transparency and compliance.
• California Code of Regulations § 1280.02 requires local agencies to submit a PDF copy of any ordinance and map designating Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) within 30 days of adoption to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, along with detailed supporting information, and to provide additional map formats if requested for clarity.

Mapping & Compliance:

• The State Fire Marshal is responsible for updating FHSZ maps, which are used to enforce fire safety standards across the state.
• Residents can check their property's FHSZ status online at osfm.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ.
• Local jurisdictions are required to review and adopt the updated maps, ensuring communities are better prepared for wildfire threats.