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Anaheim, CA 92805
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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT
DATE: JUNE 10, 2025
FROM: FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE ORDINANCE
(INTRODUCTION)
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): YES ITEM # 15
GOVERNMENT CODE § 84308 APPLIES: NO
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council, by Ordinance, amend various sections of Chapter 16.40 of Title 16 of the Anaheim Municipal Code relating to the designation of Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) within the City of Anaheim.
That the City Council, by Motion, determine that the proposed amendments are not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2), 15060(c)(3), 15378, and 15061(b)(3) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.
DISCUSSION:
In 1995, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) identified areas within Orange County that were to be designated as “Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones”. These areas included lands within the City of Anaheim. The designation of these zones was based on a number of factors including fuel loading, slope of the land, fire weather, fire history, impact of flying embers, and areas where Santa Ana, Mono and Diablo winds have been identified.
Subsequently on October 3, 1995, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 5523 which adopted the VHFHSZ (as identified by CAL FIRE) as the ridgeline areas, and undeveloped wildland areas within the City of Anaheim located east of the Costa Mesa Freeway (SR-55), and south of the Riverside Freeway (SR-91). The Council’s actions also included an exclusion of certain areas within the VHFHSZ pursuant to Government Code Section 51179(b) on the basis that the proposed building and fire safety requirements were not necessary for effective fire protection based upon the evidence set forth at that time. These excluded areas were the remaining developed parcels and were designated as the Special Protection Area.
Very High Hazard Severity Zone Ordinance (Introduction) June 10, 2025
On November 16, 2010, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 6188 adopting the 2010 California Building Code (CBC) and the California Residential Code (CRC).
Chapter 7A of the CBC and Section R237 of the CRC contain updated standards for increasing the ability of buildings within a VHFHSZ to resist the intrusion of burning embers and the possibility of ignition from fire.
In 2024, CAL FIRE, together with Anaheim Fire & Rescue staff and all other local and county municipalities across the state, began the process of updating the 2010 fire hazard zone maps.
The updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps were developed using a science- based and field-tested computer model that assigns a hazard score based on the factors that influence fire likelihood and fire behavior. Many factors are considered such as fire history, existing and potential fuel (natural vegetation), flame length, blowing embers, terrain, and typical weather for the area. The model uses nationally accepted fire behavior calculation systems. In addition, Anaheim Fire & Rescue staff conducted ground truth surveys of the entire zones to validate the inputs used by CAL FIRE in the model.
The new FHSZ map was transmitted to the City of Anaheim on March 24, 2025. This map has been available at the Fire Department (Anaheim West Tower) and on the City’s website during this period.
With the 2025 update to the FHSZ maps, the designated areas now include Moderate, High, and Very High zones. This change reflects improved wildfire modeling and greater recognition of urban-wildland interface vulnerabilities. As a result, some property owners are now included in the FHSZ for the first time. For newly included areas, homeowners may experience greater awareness and urgency regarding wildfire preparedness. The expanded zones present an opportunity to implement proactive fire- hardening measures that enhance safety and resilience.
The FHSZ designation, in conjunction with Chapter 7A of the 2022 CBC and Section R327 of the 2022 CRC, mandates all new structures built within the FHSZ to be constructed by design, materials and methods to resist the intrusion of embers and the possibility of ignition from fire. These enhanced fire-resistive construction standards apply only to new construction located within the FHSZ. These features include roofing material type and process of installation, ventilation location and design, glazing and door requirements, as well as fire resistive construction materials for the exterior surface of the structure.
An item of concern for our residents living in areas impacted by wildfire remains potential increases to insurance premiums. In anticipation of the updated mapping produced by CAL FIRE, the California Department of Insurance (CDI) has issued guidance documents identifying that the FHSZ maps do not affect insurance rates or availability, and insurers increasingly incorporate property-specific mitigation into their models.
Very High Hazard Severity Zone Ordinance (Introduction) June 10, 2025
Government Code Section 51179(b) allows for local agencies to include areas identified as a FHSZ based upon a finding that the proposed building and fire safety requirements are necessary for effective fire protection based upon the evidence set forth at that time. Staff is not recommending additional areas to the identified zoning at this time, and is in concurrence with the CAL FIRE recommended mapping.
In summary, although the expanded FHSZ designation brings more properties under its scope, the actual impacts, particularly for existing structures, are limited. With thoughtful planning and investment in mitigation, both construction costs and insurance challenges can be effectively managed, leading to long-term benefits for property owners and the broader community.
Environmental Impact Analysis: Staff recommends that the City Council determine that the proposed amendments are not subject to CEQA. The amendments do not involve any physical changes to the environment and do not have the potential to cause a significant effect on the environment. Thus, the activity is exempt from CEQA under Sections 15060(c)(2), 15060(c)(3), 15378, and 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
There is no impact on the General Fund at this time, by the recommendations provided in this report.
Respectfully submitted,
Patrick Russell
Fire Chief
Attachments:
1. Ordinance
2. 2025 Recommended Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map (Exhibit to Ordinance)
3. Ordinance (Redline)