Wildfire guide

What does a CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone mean for buyers?

FHSZ maps classify wildfire hazard severity for many California lands. They can affect building standards, disclosure, and insurance—but they are not a prediction that a specific parcel will burn.

Updated 2026-08-29

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Useful sources for searching: Official sources to verify buildability ↓

Read the zone class

Moderate, High, and Very High classes appear in SRA and, for Very High, in many LRA communities. Confirm whether the map is adopted for your location.

Buyer implications

Expect questions about defensible space, home hardening, access, and insurance. Budget for vegetation management.

Verify locally

Building officials and fire agencies interpret how FHSZ interacts with the California Building Standards Code locally.

People also ask

Is Very High FHSZ unbuildable?

No. Many homes exist in Very High zones. Standards and costs are typically higher.

SRA vs LRA?

SRA is state responsibility for wildfire protection finance; LRA is local. Both can have hazard mapping.

Official sources

Last verified 2026-08-29. Re-check agency maps before decisions — vintages change.

Related

FHSZ Defensible space WUI

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Parcel View checks official public GIS for zoning, flood, fire, soils, and planning — every finding linked to the source.

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