2025-06-10; City Council; 11; Map of Fire Hazard Severity Zones

CA Review JRT
Meeting Date: June 10, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager
Staff Contact: Darcy Davidson, Division Chief – Fire Marshal [email protected], 442-339-2662
Subject: Map of Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Districts: All
Recommen
ded Action
Introduce an ordinance amending the Carlsbad Municipal Code by adding Chapter 17.05 Fire Hazard Severity Zones, designating fire hazard severity zones by map to comply with the requirements of California Government Code Section 51179.

Executive Summary
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) is responsible for periodically updating fire hazard severity zone maps of every region of the state, ensuring the severity zones reflect current wildfire hazards.

A fire hazard severity zone is a geographical area classified as having a moderate, high or very high wildfire hazard. These maps identify areas with the highest potential for wildfires, informing the application of local planning, fire and building codes, and emergency preparedness strategies.

Cal Fire released recommended updates to the Fire Hazard Severity Zone map for Southern California, including the City of Carlsbad, on March 24, 2025. State law requires that all local jurisdictions adopt these latest fire hazard severity zone determinations by ordinance within 120 days of receiving the updated map. The city is required to adopt the updated map, provided as Attachment A to Exhibit 1, by July 22, 2025.

City staff recommend holding a second reading of the ordinance at the next City Council meeti
ng on June 17, 2025. If the ordinance is approved, the map would become effective thirty days after its adoption.

June 10, 2025
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Explanation & Analysis
Cal Fire determines and maps the fire hazard severity zones for state and local jurisdictions in accordance with Government Code Section 51175 et seq.1 The recent update provides a more accurate representation of areas susceptible to wildfire in California.

To determine the fire hazard severity zones, Cal Fire incorporated new scientific data on local climate and improved fire assessment modeling, which included factors such as fire history, vegetation, measures of fire intensity, proximity to wildland, terrain, and weather patterns.

The City Council adopted the previous map in 2008. At that time, the map only identified very high fire hazard severity zones. More recent legislation, Senate Bill 63 (2021), now requires maps to designate the areas within moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones.

The updated map includes the
following designations in Carlsbad:

Moderate 1,796 acres
High 4,298 acres
Very high 8,170 acres
Total 14,264 acres
(For perspective, the city
encompasses 25,040 acres.)
The purpose of these designations
is to reduce the risk of loss of life
and property during wildfires.

This is accomplished by decreasing
fuel sources and enhancing
construction features in the
designated areas to prevent
ignition and ember intrusion.

In certain areas, the map will guide
city development standards and increase requirements for new buildings to include ignition- resistant features and create defensible space between structures and the surrounding wildland. Additionally, the sellers of property in high and very high hazard severity zones will be required to disclose the designations during real estate transactions. If multiple fire hazard severity zones overlap a structure, existing or proposed, the structure’s designation is based on the most severe of the zones.

Cal Fire’s fact sheet on the fire hazard severity zones is provided as Exhibit 3.

1 Et seq, or et sequentes, means all of the codes in the section, not just the single one cited.

Source: California State Fire Marshal
Fire hazard severity zones in Carlsbad
June 10, 2025
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Public Notification
Local agencies like the City of Carlsbad must make the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map available for public review and comment within thirty days of the maps being transmitted to the agency.

The updated map was posted on the city’s website on March 25, 2025. The Carlsbad Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map was also posted in the City Manager’s Weekly Update on March 27, 2025. These postings are required and comply with the 30-day notification period outlined in Government Code Section 51178.5. A form was available on the website to accept public comments. Ten comments were received and are provided as Exhibit 2.

Fiscal Analysis
The proposed ordinance will have no immediate fiscal impact on the city.

Next Steps
• If the ordinance is approved, the City Clerk will prepare the ordinance for adoption at the next regular City Council meeting.
• Once it is adopted, the City Clerk will publish the ordinance or a summary of the ordinance in a newspaper of general circulation within 15 days. • The ordinance will be effective 30 days after its adoption.

Environmental Eval uation
The proposed action to amend the Carlsbad Municipal Code designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones is exempt from environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(5) as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the proposed action may have a significant effect on the environment.

Exhibits

1. City Council ordinance

2. Public comments

3. CalFire’s factsheet on the fire hazard severity zone maps June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 3 of 29
Exhibit 1
ORDINANCE NO. CS-495.

AN OR

DINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,

CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING CHAPTER 17.05 FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES, DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD

SEVERITY ZONES BY MAP TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51179
WHEREAS, California Government Code S ection 51175 et seq. set s forth laws intended to classify lands in the state where moderate, high, and very high fire hazard areas exist so that public officials may implement measures to reduce fire risks; and WHEREAS, California Government Code S ection 51178 requires the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones and submit those zones to each local agency in California as a recommendation; and
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 51179 requires a local agency to designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones within its jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving such a recommendation from Cal Fire; and WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 51179 prohibits a local agency from decreasing the level of fire hazard severity zones identified by Cal Fire, thereby creating a mandate that each local agency adopt, at a minimum, the levels of fire hazard severity zones identified and recommended to the local agency by Cal Fire; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to California Government Code Section 51178 , Cal Fire has identified certain areas within the City of Carlsbad as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones; and
WHEREAS, the map titled “City of Carlsbad (San Diego County), Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones,” dated March 24, 2025 (Attachment A), shows the areas identified by Cal Fire as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones; and WHEREAS, pursuant to California Government Code 51178.5, the Carlsbad Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map was made available for public review on the city website on March 2 5, 2025. The Carlsbad Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map was also posted in the City Manager’s Weekly Update newsletter on March 27, 2025. These postings are required and comply with the 30-day notification period outlined in California Government Code Section 51178.5; and
June 10, 2025
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WHEREAS, t he City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, wishes to designate as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones the same areas identified as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones by Cal Fire in the Carlsbad Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map.

NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, ordains as follows that:

1. Th at the above recitations are true and correct.

2. That the proposed action to amend the Carlsbad Municipal Code designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones is exempt from environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)(5) as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the proposed action may have a significant effect on the environment.

3. That Carlsbad Municipal Code Title 17 is amended to add Chapter 17.05 as follows:

Chapter 17.05
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Sections:

17.05.010 Designation and Adoption

17.05.020 Multiple Fire Hazard Severity Zone Designations

17.05.010 Designation and Adoption
A. The City Council of the City of Carlsbad hereby designates medium, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones as identified by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) and as shown on the map titled “City of Carlsbad (San Diego County), Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones,” dated March 24, 2025.

B. The map titled “City of Carlsbad (San Diego County), Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones,” dated March 24, 2025, is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and adopted and incorporated in this code by reference.

17.05.020 Multiple Fire Hazard Severity Zone Designations When multiple fire hazard severity zones overlap a structure, existing or proposed, the structure’s designation is based on the most severe zone overlapping that structure.

EF
FECTIVE DATE: This ordinance shall be effective thirty days after its adoption; and the City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this ordinance and cause the full text of the ordinance, or a summary of the ordinance prepared by the City Attorney to be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Carlsbad within fifteen days after its adoption.

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INTRODUCED AND FIRST READ at a Regular Meeting of the Carlsbad City Council on the 10th day o
f June, 2025, and thereafter
PASSED, A PPROVED AND ADOPTED at a R egular Me e ting o f the C ity C ouncil of t he C ity o f Carlsbad on the __ day of ________, 2025, by the following vote, to wit:

AYES:

NAY
S:

ABSTAIN:

ABSENT:

APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
_________________________________
CINDIE K. McMAHON, City Attorney
__________________________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
__________________________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 6 of 29
City and County boundaries as of 10/22/24 (CA Board of Equalization) CAL FIRE State Responsibility Areas (SRA25_1)
CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZSRA23_3, FHSZLRA_25_1) Data Sources:

Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Joe Tyler, Director/Fire Chief, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources, CA Natural Resources Agency Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of CaliforniaThe State of California and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy of data or maps. Neither the Stat
e nor the Department shall
be liable under any circumstances for any direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or third party on account of, or arising from, the use of data or maps. and other relevant factors including areas where winds
have been identified by the Office of the Stat
e Fire Marshal
as a major cause of wildfire spread.
statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and v ery high fire
hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, Government Code section 51178 requires the State Fire
Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high f
ire hazard severity zones based on consistent
Waterbody
Unzoned LRA
Incorporated City
Projection: NAD 83 California Teale Albers
Scale: 1:58,000 at 11" x 17"
0 1 2 3 4Km
0 1 2Mi
Very High High Moderate
Very High High Moderate
Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Area (LRA), as Identified by the State Fire Marshal
Carlsbad
5 Co Hwy S21
Rancho
Sa
ntaFeRd
Co Hwy
S11
Carlsbad
Blvd

UNINCORPORATED
SAN DIEGO CO.

ENCINITAS

OCEANSIDE

SAN MARCOS
VISTA
S A N D I E G O C O .

March 24, 2025
As Identified by the
State Fire Marshal
Local Responsibility Area
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
CITY OF CARLSBAD – SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Fire Hazard Severity Zones in State Responsibility
Area (SRA), Effective April 1, 2024
Attachment A
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Submission Date First name Last name Email address Comment 4/21/2025 14:11 Thomas Burdel [email protected] As a concerned member of the community, I respectfully urge CAL FIRE to reconsider the recent reclassification of our neighborhood—bordering Agua Hedionda Creek (streets including Via Marta)—as a “severe” fire hazard zone. This area has had no wildfire history for decades, sits beside a clearly visible water source, and is under county jurisdiction that should be actively managing fire mitigation through monitoring and vegetation clearing. The abrupt change from no risk to “severe” feels not only extreme but disconnected from the lived experience of residents who’ve long seen this area as low-risk. This designation could significantly impact insurance rates and property values, placing unnecessary burdens on us residents. We ask for a thoughtful review grounded in accurate, site-specific data that reflects the true conditions of our community. Thank you. 4/21/2025 11:45 Samantha Burdel [email protected] As a concerned member of the community, I respectfully urge CAL FIRE to reconsider the recent reclassification of our neighborhood—bordering Agua Hedionda Creek (streets including Via Marta)—as a “severe” fire hazard zone. This area has had no wildfire history for decades, sits beside a clearly visible water source, and is under county jurisdiction that should be actively managing fire mitigation through monitoring and vegetation clearing. The abrupt change from no risk to “severe” feels not only extreme but disconnected from the lived experience of residents who’ve long seen this area as low-risk. This designation could significantly impact insurance rates and property values, placing unnecessary burdens on us residents. We ask for a thoughtful review grounded in accurate, site-specific data that reflects the true conditions of our community. Thank you. 4/3/2025 16:28 Larry Tucker [email protected] I own retail buildings at NEC of El Camino Real and La Costa Ave in Carlsbad CA. The buildings are 50' & 60' deep and are located along El Camino Real and La Costa Ave. They adjoin 2 wide multi-lane roads with 30' setbacks. Our buildings are stucco. We have two trellises of faux wood (aluminum). Our Center has over 400 parking spaces. To our north is a La Costa Resort parking lot and its golf facilities. To our east is a local Wate r
District parking lot and the Chabad Temple. To our south is another shopping center. There is open area to our west but there is quite a distance to our structures. Santa Ana winds blow toward the west, the opposite direction from the open area to our west. The model that was used to prepar Fire Maps couldn't possibly have consider all variables that are involved in an urban location like ours, so we do not believe that our location merit s
very high fire danger designation. Hence we request a formal review of that designation. Thank you. 4/1/2025 12:21 Margaret Gibson [email protected] I would like our community to become FIREWISE due to this new classification. Can the City help us? 3/30/2025 9:54 Susan Houpy [email protected] Rock Ridge Road has a preserve behind the homes. When we first moved here our HOA was diligent with reclaimed water and clearing the brush directly behind our homes. I have complained to fire department and HOA numerous times that the current landscape schedule and sprinklers are not adequate to keeping our property safe. We are already in the Red zone. Increase to insurance is inevitable but how can we be safe if our proper management company and fire department are not adhering to their responsibilities? 3/30/2025 9:38 Liz Jones [email protected] 1. How will this map affect my home insurance rates?Will insurers automatically adjust premiums based on the new fire hazard designations? 2.

What are the criteria used to determine fire hazard severity zones?How does Cal Fire decide if an area is moderate, high, or very high risk? 3. If my home is now in a higher fire risk zone, what mitigation steps can I take to potentially lower my risk rating? Will these actions be officially recognized in policy decisions? 4. Can I appeal my property's designation if I believe it has been inaccurately classified?What is the process for requesting a review or adjustment? 5. Will this map impact property values and resale potential? Have there been studies or cases where a fire zone designati o
led to lower property appraisals? 6. Does this new map affect local building codes or permit requirements?Will homeowners in high-risk areas nee to meet additional fire safety regulations?
3/29/2025 13:39 Kristine Wright [email protected] 1. What happens if part of a moderate, high or very high portion interacts with your property and you actually have two colors on your property? 2 Although the state Fire Marshal was responsible for the maps, are there ways to change the map? 3. Given the fire insurance policies are being increased, will this new map increase individual property policies based on fire severity zones? 4. Can cities modify the maps if there is a good reason? Please delineate the details on how these maps were actually created. List sources/data programs/historical maps or whatever was used to generate these fire maps in Southern California.
3/28/2025 10:01 Steve Ahle [email protected] The designation for severe seems arbitrary. The line is drawn excluding the Robertson ranch development which has the same residential makeup and more wild foliage bordering its area as our development in the colony. Our residential development has some of the widest roads of asphalt to deter ground fire and limited foliage that has been cut back consistently over the years. So I am not sure why our area is singled out and others of the same configuration is excluded from this designation.

Exhibit 2
June 10, 2025
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3/28/2025 7:26 Ted Labahn [email protected] I live near Calavera Hills Elementary school. Map shows high danger probably due to preserve area along College Blvd. which is primarily dead vegetation. It needs to be cleaned out of all the dead, yet someone says it can't be touched. Can this be changed? 3/27/2025 22:46 Don Neu [email protected] Why is so much of the area southwest of College Boulevard and Cannon Road shown as a High Fire Hazard Area? This area is not adjacent to brush areas and is bordered by General Plan Circulation Element Roads that provide buffers from the areas of native habitat.

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Exhibit 3
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What is a Fire Hazard Severity Zone?
When did Fire Hazard Severity Zones begin in Local Responsibility Area? What do Fire Hazard Severity Zones measure?
Will the new Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps affect my insurance? What are the requirements within Fire Hazard Severity Zones? June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 12 of 29
Why are Fire Hazard Severity Zones being updated?
What are the key elements of the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Model? Why does the model place an emphasis on the spread of embers? What is the difference between SRA and LRA?
How are Fire Hazard Severity Zones determined in Local Responsibility Areas?

FHSZ Frequently Asked Que stions
What do Fire Hazard Severity Zones measure?
The
Fire Hazard Severity Zone map reﬂects “hazard,” not “risk”. The map is like ﬂood zone maps, where lands are described in terms of the probability level of a par琀椀cular area being inundated by ﬂoodwaters, and not speciﬁcally prescrip琀椀ve of impacts. “Hazard” is based on the physical condi琀椀ons that create a likelihood and expected ﬁre behavior over a 30 to 50-year period without considering mi琀椀ga琀椀on measures such as home hardening, recent wildﬁre, or fuel reduc琀椀on eﬀorts.
“Risk” is the poten琀椀al damage a ﬁre can do to the area under exis琀椀ng condi琀椀ons, accoun琀椀ng for any modiﬁca琀椀ons such as fuel reduc琀椀on projects, defensible space, and igni琀椀on resistant building construc琀椀on.

What is a Fire Hazard Severity Zone or FHSZ?
Public Resource Code 4202; The State Fire Marshal shall classify lands within Stat e Responsibility Areas into Fir e Hazard Severity Zones. Each zone shall embrace rela琀椀vely homogeneous lands and shall be based on fuel loading, slope, ﬁre weather, and other relevant factors present, including areas where winds have been iden琀椀ﬁed by the department as a major cause of wildﬁre spread.

Government Code 51178; The State Fire Marshal shall iden琀椀fy areas in the state as Mode rate,
High, and Ver y High Fire Hazard Severity Zones based on consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of ﬁre hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, ﬁre weather, and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been iden琀椀ﬁed by the Oﬃce of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildﬁre spread.

Will the new Fire Hazard Severity Zones aﬀect my ability to get or maintain insurance? Insurance companies use risk models, which diﬀer from hazard models, because they consider the suscep琀椀bility of a structure to damage from ﬁre and other short-term factors that are not included in hazard modeling. It is unlikely that insurance risk models would u琀椀lize CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones as a factor, but much of the same data that is used in the Fire Hazard Severity Zone model are likely included in the insurance companies’ risk models. However, insurance risk models incorporate many addi琀椀onal factors and that change more frequently than those that CAL FIRE includes in its hazard mapping, which is built to remain steady for the next 10+ years.

General
June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 13 of 29

FHSZ Frequently Asked Que stions
When were the maps last updated?
In 2007, CAL FIRE updated the FHSZs for the en琀椀re State Responsibility Area (SRA). Between 2008- 20 11 the department worked with local governments to make recommenda琀椀ons of the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within Local Responsibility Area (LRA).

Why are ﬁre hazard severity maps being updated?
The h
azard maps are being updated to more accurately reﬂect the zones in California that are suscep琀椀ble to wildﬁre. The hazard mapping process will incorporate new science in local climate data and improved ﬁre assessment modeling in determining hazard ra琀椀ngs.

Where do Fire Hazard Severity Zones apply?
Fire Hazard Severity Zones are found in areas where the state has ﬁnan cial responsibility for wildﬁre protec琀椀on and preven琀椀on, called the State Responsibility Area. More than 31 million acres are in this area. Under Senate Bill 63 (Stern, 2021) Government Cod e 51178 was amended to also iden琀椀fy the M oderate and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones with the Very High in Local Responsibility Area (LRA).

What are the uses of Fire Hazard Severity Zones?
The zo
nes are used for several purposes including to designate areas where California’s defensible space standards and wildland urban interface building codes are required. They can be a factor in real estate disclosure, and local governments may consider them in their general plan.

What are the key elements of the Fire Hazard Severity Zone model? The ﬁre hazard s everity model for wildland ﬁre has two key elements: probability of an area burning and expected ﬁre behavior under extreme fuel and weather condi琀椀ons. The zones reﬂect areas that have similar burn probabili琀椀es and ﬁre behavior characteris琀椀cs. The factors considered in determining ﬁre hazard within wildland areas are ﬁre history, ﬂame length, terrain, local weather, and poten琀椀al fuel over a 50-year period. Outside of wildlands, the model considers factors that might lead to buildings being threatened, including terrain, weather, urban vegeta琀椀on cover, blowing embers, proximity to wildland, ﬁre history, and ﬁre hazard in nearby wildlands.

FHSZs are not a structure loss model, as key informa琀椀on regarding structure igni琀椀on (such as roof type, etc.) is not included.

General
June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 14 of 29

FHSZ Frequently Asked Que stions
How do the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps diﬀer from California Public U琀椀li琀椀es Commission (CPUC) High Fire Threat District Maps?
The California Public U琀椀li琀椀es Commission (CPUC) sponsored map, known as "CPUC High Fire Threat District Map” (HFTD), includes similar factors as those in the FHSZ maps, however the CPUC HFTD Map is designed speciﬁcally for iden琀椀fying areas where there is an increased risk for u琀椀lity associated wildﬁres. As such, the CPUC map includes ﬁre hazards associated with historical powerline-caused wildﬁres, current fuel condi琀椀ons, and scores areas based on where ﬁres start, as opposed to where poten琀椀al ﬁres may cause impacts.

Why is my property in a diﬀerent zone than the adjacent area, w hich looks similar? In wildland areas, zone edges are a result of the way zones are delineated. Spe ciﬁcally, zones represent areas of similar slope and fuel poten琀椀al. Zone boundaries divide zones based on geographic and vegeta琀椀on features that align with ﬁre hazard poten琀椀al; although, at a local scale, it may appear that the immediate area is similar on both sides of the edge. The class value within a zone is based on the average hazard score across the whole zone, so areas that are in the same zone but not immediately adjacent to a local area can have an inﬂuence on the ﬁnal zone classiﬁca琀椀on. Classiﬁca琀椀on outside of wildland areas is based on the ﬁre hazard of the adjacent wildland and the probability of ﬂames and embers threatening buildings.

How are Fire Hazard Severity Zones determined?
CAL
FIRE used the best available science and data to develop, and ﬁeld test a model that served as the basis of zone assignments. The model evaluated the probability of the area burning and poten琀椀al ﬁre behavior in the area. Many factors were included such as ﬁre history, vegeta琀椀on, ﬂame length, blowing embers, proximity to wildland, terrain, and weather.

What new data will be included in the new model, and how does this diﬀer from the previous model?
A 2 km
grid of climate data covering the years 2003-2018 is being used in the update. The previous model used stock weather inputs across the state to calculate wildland ﬁre intensity scores. The updated model will adjust ﬁre intensity scores based on the most extreme ﬁre weather at a given loca琀椀on, considering temperature, humidity, and wind speed. In addi琀椀on, ember transport is being modeled based on local distribu琀椀ons of observed wind speed and direc琀椀on values instead of using a generic buﬀer distance for urban areas adjacent to wildlands.

General
June 10, 2025
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FHSZ Frequently Asked Que stions
How can I search t he Fire Hazard Severity Zone of a property? You can search by address to ﬁnd your current designa琀椀on on the web at: osfm.ﬁre.ca.gov/FHSZ Why does the model place an emphasis on the spread of embers? Embers spread wildﬁre because they can travel long distances in the wind and ignite vegeta琀椀on, roofs, a琀?cs (by ge琀?ng into vents), and decks.

Why do waterbodies have a Fire Hazard Severity Zone Clas siﬁca琀椀on? All areas in State Responsibility Area, including water bodies, require a Fire Hazard Severity Zone designa琀椀on. The 2007 FHSZ maps zoned all water as Moderate by default. In the 2023 FHSZ model we added a buﬀer of FHSZ from the surrounding wildland into water bodies to account for poten琀椀al threat of embers to buildings on docks and house boats, as well as varia琀椀on in reservoir height that occurs with drought.

How does CAL FIRE ass ist Local Governments in Fire Hazard Severity Zones? CAL FIRE’s Land Use Planning Program is a specialized unit that provides support to local governments by providing ﬁre safety exper琀椀se on the State’s wildland urban interface building codes, wildﬁre safety codes, as well as helping in the development of the safety elements in general plans.

General
June 10, 2025
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FHSZ Frequently Asked Que stions
What is State Responsibility Area or SRA?
SRA is
a legal term deﬁning the area where the state has ﬁnancial responsibility for wildland ﬁre protec琀椀on and preven琀椀on. Incorporated ci琀椀es and federal ownership are not included. Within the SRA, CAL FIRE is responsible for ﬁre preven琀椀on and suppression. There are more than 31 million acres in SRA, with an es琀椀mated 1.7 million people and 800,000 exis琀椀ng homes.

How is State Re sponsibility Area determined?
The Board of Forestry and Fire Protec琀椀on (Board) classiﬁes land as State Responsibility Area. The legal deﬁni琀椀on of SRA is found in the Public Resources Code Sec琀椀on 4125. The Board has developed detailed procedures to classify lands as State Responsibili ty Area. Lands are removed from SRA when they become incorporated by a city, change in ownership to the federal government, become more densely populated, or are converted to intensive agriculture that minimizes the risk of wildﬁre. While some lands are removed from SRA automa琀椀cally, the Board typically reviews changes every ﬁve years.

What Fire Hazard Severity Zones are in State Responsibility Ar ea? All of the State Responsibility Area is in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Lands are either ranked as Moderate, High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

What are the wildland urban interface (WUI) building codes in State Responsibility Area? The WUI building codes (California Building Code (CBC) Chapter 7A) reduce the risk of embers fanned by wind-blo wn wildﬁres from igni琀椀ng buildings. The codes for rooﬁng, siding, decking, windows, and vents apply throughout all State Responsibility Area regardless of the ﬁre hazard severity ranking. Ember-resistant building materials can be found at:
h琀琀ps://osfm.ﬁre.ca.gov/divisions/ﬁre-engi neering-and-inves琀椀ga琀椀ons/building-materials-lis琀椀ng/

State Responsibility Area
June 10, 2025
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FHSZ Frequently Asked Que stions
What is the diﬀerence between the various Fire Hazard Severity Zones? Classiﬁca琀椀on of a wildland zone as Moderate, High or Very High Fire Hazard is based on the average hazard across the area included in the zone, which have a minimum size of 200 acres. In wildlands, hazard is a func琀椀on of modeled ﬂame length under the worst condi琀椀ons and annual burn probability. Both these factors generally increase with increasing hazard level, but there may be instances where one value is Very High and the other is low, pushing the overall hazard into a more intermediate ranking. On average, both modeled ﬂame length and burn probability increase by roughly 40-60% between hazard classes.

Is the GIS data for Fire Hazard Severity Zones available fo r download? The data inputs used to develop the Fire Hazard Severity Zones are iden琀椀ﬁed in the Ini琀椀al Statement of Reasons (ISOR) Title 19 Development (ca.gov). CAL FIRE has developed an addi琀椀onal data package which consists of sequen琀椀al modeling steps, including any data inputs that were not already publicly available and referenced in the ISOR. The data package encompasses 34 spa琀椀al datasets and 8 tables, provided in raster, polygon, and table format. These datasets are forma琀琀ed for Esri ArcGIS so昀琀ware, except for four tables provided in Excel. Ten of the datasets are updated versions used to produce an edited SRA FHSZ map following the public comment period that ended April 4, 2023. Upon formal adop琀椀on of the FHSZ map, the ﬁnal SRA FHSZ geospa琀椀al data ﬁle will become available. The data package is available on the FHSZ website Fire Hazard Severity Zones (ca.gov) under the science and methods banner.

State Responsibility Area
June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 18 of 29

FHSZ Frequently Asked Que stions
What is Local Responsibility Area or LRA?
Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) are incorporated ci琀椀es, urban regi ons, agriculture lands, and por琀椀ons of the desert where the local government is responsible for wildﬁre protec琀椀on. This is typically provided by city ﬁre departments, ﬁre protec琀椀on districts, coun琀椀es, and by CAL FIRE under contract.

When did Fire Hazard Severity Zones begin in Local Responsibility Area? Assembly Bill 337 (Bates, 19 92) prompted by the devasta琀椀ng Oakland Hills Fire of 1991, calls for CAL FIRE to evaluate ﬁre hazard severity in Local Responsibility Area and to make a recommenda琀椀on to the local jurisdic琀椀on where Very High FHSZ exist. Government Code 51175 then provides direc琀椀on for the local jurisdic琀椀on to take appropriate ac 琀椀on.

How are Fire Hazard Severity Zones determined in Local Responsibility Areas? CAL FIRE uses an extension of the Stat e Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone model as the basis for evalua琀椀ng ﬁre hazard in Local Responsibility Area. The Local Responsibility Area hazard ra琀椀ng reﬂects ﬂame and ember intrusion from adjacent wildlands and from ﬂammable vegeta琀椀on in the urban area.

What are the requirements for landowners in Fir e Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas?
Calif
ornia’s WUI building codes (CBC Chapter 7A) apply to the design and construc琀椀on of new buildings located in High and Very High FHSZs in Local Responsibility Areas. Local ordinances may require igni琀椀on resistant construc琀椀on for remodel projects. Check with your local building department to determine which igni琀椀on resistant building codes apply to your project. In addi琀椀on, Government Code Sec琀椀on 51182 calls for defensible space clearance and other wildland ﬁre safety prac琀椀ces for buildings. Owners are also required to make a natural hazard disclosure as part of a real estate transfer. For informa琀椀on regarding home hardening and defensible space clearance, visit www.readyforwildﬁre.org.

Does the designa琀椀on of Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones i n the Local Responsibility Area trigger the 100-foot clearance requirement?
Yes, per Government Code 51182 unless a local government has passed a more stringent requirement, the 100-foo t defensible space clearance applies. For informa琀椀on regarding home hardening and defensible space clearance, visit www.readyforwildﬁre.org.

Local Responsibility Area
June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 19 of 29

FHSZ Frequently Asked Que stions
Why is my property in a diﬀerent zone than the adjacent area, whi ch looks similar? In non-wildland areas, zone edges occur based on distance to the wildland edge. Because hazard in thes
e areas is largely determined by incoming embers from adjacent wildland, urban areas that are similar in vegeta琀椀on 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.

What is the process for developing Fire Hazard Severity Zones i n the Local Responsibility Area? CAL FIRE uses the same modeling data that is used to map the State Responsibility Area. The map, along with a model ordinance, are then sent to the governing body for adop琀椀on.

How are the new Fire Hazard Severity Zones impac琀椀ng developme nt? Many of the changes expanding Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas have been supported by the building industry. CAL FIRE works closely with the building industry when se琀?ng various building codes and defensible space requirements, so we are working together to not aﬀect development itself but to make sure development matches the hazards of that area.

When will the Local Responsibility Area Map be released? The Local Responsibility Area map process will happen a昀琀er the State Responsibility Area process has been completed, which is es琀椀mated to occur in winter of 2025.

Why haven’t Moderate and High Fire Hazard Severity Zone classes been classiﬁed before in the Local Responsibility Area?
New legisla琀椀on, Senate Bill 63 (Stern, 2021), now requires the adop琀椀on of all three Fire Hazard Severity Zone classes in the Local Responsibility Area. Previously onl y Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones were required for adop琀椀on in Local Responsibility Areas.

Local Responsibility Area
June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 20 of 29

LRA
Legislation Factsheet

Ass
embly Bill No.337

An act to add Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 511 75) to Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code, and to amend Section 13108.5 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to fire pro
tection.

[Enrolled, January 28, 1991]

AB 337, Bates. Very high fire hazard severity zones.

(1) U
nder existing law, the State Board of Forestry is required to classify all lands within the state, in accordance with prescribed criteria, for the purpose of determining areas in which the financial responsibility of preventing and suppressing fires is primarily the responsibility of the state.

This bill would declare that the prevention of fires is not a municipal affair but is instead, a matter of statewide concern, and would make a finding and declaration of the Legislature that its provisions apply to all local agencies, including, but not limited to, charter cities, charter counties, and charter cities and counties. The bill would prohibit that finding from limiting the authority of a local agency, as defined, from imposing more restrictive fire and panic safety requirements, as otherwise authorized by law.

The bill would state that it is not the intent of the Legislature to limit or restrict the authority of a local agency to impose more restrictive fire and panic safety requirements, as otherwise authorized by law.

This bill would require the Director of Forestry and F ire Protection to identify areas in the state as very high fire hazard severity zones within all counties pursuant to a prescribed schedule. The bill would require local agencies, as defined, to designate, by ordinance, very high fire hazard severity zones in their jurisdiction after receiving recommendations from the director, except as prescribed. The bill would authorize local agencies to include or exclude areas following certain findings and would require changes made by local agencies to be final and not rebuttable by the director. By requiring local agencies to designate very high fire hazard severity zones within their jurisdictions, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the State Fire Marshal to prepare and adopt a model ordinance that provides for the establishment of any high fire hazard security zones.

June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 21 of 29

LRA
Legislation Factsheet

Assembly Bill No.337 (Con tinued)

(2) U
nder existing law, any person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains any building or structure in, upon, or adjoining any mountainous area or forest-covered lands, brush-covered lands, or grass-covered lands, or any land that is covered with flammable material, is required to undertake specified fire protection measures, including the maintenance of specified firebreaks.

The bill would enact requirements of this nature for any person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains, any occupied dwelling or occupied structure in, upon, or adjoining any mountainous area, forest-covered land, brush-covered land, grass-covered land, or land covered with flammable material, which area or land is within a very high fire hazard severity zone, as described in (1).

The bill would authorize local agencies to exempt certain structures and would exempt certain land or water areas.

The bill would make violation of these requirements an infraction or misdemeanor, as specified, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime, and would specify related matters.

This bill would require local agencies to notify owners of property of violation and would authorize local agencies to correct the conditions and make a lien upon the property, as prescribed. By creating these requirements, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The bill would permit a violation of these requirements to be considered a public nuisance, as specified.

(3) Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to adopt, amend, and repeal regulations for roof coverings and openings into the attic areas of buildings in those fire hazard severity zones in state responsibility lands as designated by the director. Existing law requires the director to classify lands within state responsibility areas into fire hazard severity zones.

This bill would instead require the State Fire Marshal to propose, and would require the State Building Standards Commission to adopt, amend, and repeal those regulations. The bill would also require the State Fire Marshal to propose, and would require the State Building Standards Commission to adopt, amend, and repeal, those regulations for buildings in very high fire hazard severity zones in state responsibility lands, designated by the director, and in very high fire hazard severity zones as described in (1). The bill would require roofs on all new buildings and certain existing buildings in both of those zones to be at least a class B roof that complies with Standard 32-7 of the Uniform Building Code, as adopted in the California Building Standards Code. The bill would impose requirements on installers and roofing materials and make other related changes. The bill would exempt historic buildings, as defined, from these provisions.

June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 22 of 29

LRA
Legislation Factsheet

Sena
te Bill No.63
CHAPTER 382

An act to amend Sec tions 51177, 51178, 51178.5, 51182, and 51189 of the Government Code, to amend Section 13108.5 of the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Sections 4124.5 and 4291 of, and to add and repeal Sections 4123.8, 4291.5, and 4291.6 of, the Public Resources Code, relating to fire prevention.

[Approved by Governor September 28, 2021. Filed with Secretary of State September 28, 2021.]

SB 63, Stern. Fire prevention: vegetation management: public education: grants: defensible space:
fire hazard severity zones.

(1) Existing law requires the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection to identify areas of the state as very high fire hazard severity zones based on specified criteria. Existing law requires a local agency, within 30 days after receiving a transmittal from the director that identifies very high fire hazard severity zones, to make the information available for public review, as provided.

This bill, among other things, would also require the director to identify areas of the state as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones. The bill would modify the factors the director is required to use to identify areas into fire hazard severity zones, as provided. The bill would require a local agency to make this information available for public review and comment, as provided. By expanding the responsibility of a local agency, the bill would impose a state- mandated local program.

This bill would also make conforming changes.
(2) Existing law requires a person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains an occupied dwelling or structure in, upon, or adjoining a mountainous area, forest-covered land, brush- covered land, grass-covered land, or land that is covered with flammable material that is within a very high fire hazard severity zone, as designated by a local agency, or a building or structure in, upon, or adjoining those areas or lands within a state responsibility area, to maintain a defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure, as specified. Existing law authorizes a greater distance than specified above on the specified land in a very high fire hazard severity zone. Existing law specifies that clearance beyond the property line may only be required if state law, local ordinance, rule, or regulation includes certain findings and specifies that clearance on adjacent property shall only be conducted following written consent by the adjacent landowner.

June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 23 of 29

LRA
Legislation Factsheet

Amen
ded by Senate Bill No.63

Government Code 51178
The State Fire Marshal shall identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 382, Sec. 2.5. (SB 63) Effective January 1, 2022.)

Government Code 51178.5
Within 30 days after receiving a transmittal from the State Fire Marshal that identifies fire hazard severity zones pursuant to Section 51178, a local agency shall make the information available for public review and comment. The information shall be presented in a format that is understandable and accessible to the general public, including, but not limited to, maps.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 382, Sec. 3.5. (SB 63) Effective January 1, 2022.)

June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 24 of 29

LRA
Legislation Factsheet

Ass
embly Bill No. 211
CHAPTER 574

An act to amend Sections 11891, 11893, 12581, 12996, 12998, 12999.4, and 12999.5 of, and to add Sections 12999.6 and 13001 to, the Food and Agricultural Code, to amend Section 51179 of the Government Code, to amend Sections 44274.10, 44274.11, 44274.12, 44274.13, and 44274.14 of the Health and Safety Code, to amend Sections 3113, 4799.05, 14503.5.1, 14538, 14549.2, 14581, 42052, and 42060 of, to add Sections 14537.5, 14548, 14555, and 21166.3 to, to add Part 5 (commencing with Section 75250) to Division 44 of, and to repeal Section 75250.1 of, the Public Resources Code, to amend Section 43152.6 of, and to amend and repeal Section 43152.10 of, the Revenue and Taxation Code, to amend Section 13198 of the Water Code, to amend the Budget Act of 2021 (Chapters 21, 69, and 240 of the Statutes of 2021) by amending Item 8570-002-0001 of Section

2.00 of that act, and to amend the Budget Act of 2021 (Chapter 44 of the Statutes of 2022) by amending Items 3540-101-0001 of Section 2.00 of that act, relating to public resources, and making an appropriation therefor, to take effect immediately, bill related to the budget.

[Approved by Governor September 27, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State September 27, 2022.]

AB 211, Committee on Budget. Public resources trailer bill.

(2) Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas of the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on specified criteria. Existing law requires a local agency to designate, by ordinance, very high fire hazard severity zones in its jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal. Existing law authorizes a local agency, at its discretion, to include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as very high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as very high fire hazard severity zones following a finding supported by substantial evidence, as provided.

This bill would additionally require a local agency to designate, by ordinance, moderate and high fire hazard severity zones within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal. By expanding the responsibility of a local agency, the bill would impose a state- mandated local program. The bill would additionally authorize a local agency, at its discretion, to include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones, respectively. The bill would prohibit the local agency from decreasing the level of fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal for any area within the jurisdiction of the local agency, as provided.

June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 25 of 29

LRA
Legislation Factsheet

Amen
ded by Assembly Bill No. 211

Government Code 511 79
(a) A local agency shall designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones in its jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178.

(b) (1) A local agency may, at its discretion, include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as very high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as very high fire hazard severity zones following a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Section 51182 are necessary for effective fire protection within the area.

(2) A local agency may, at its discretion, include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones, respectively.

(3) A local agency shall not decrease the level of fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal for any area within the jurisdiction of the local agency, and, in exercising its discretion pursuant to paragraph (2), may only increase the level of fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal for any area within the jurisdiction of the local agency.

(c) The local agency shall transmit a copy of an ordinance adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within 30 days of adoption.

(d) Changes made by a local agency to the recommendations made by the State Fire Marshal shall be final and shall not be rebuttable by the State Fire Marshal.

(e) The State Fire Marshal shall prepare and adopt a model ordinance that provides for the establishment of very high fire hazard severity zones.

(f) Any ordinance adopted by a local agency pursuant to this section that substantially conforms to the model ordinance of the State Fire Marshal shall be presumed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section.

(g) A local agency shall post a notice at the office of the county recorder, county assessor, and county planning agency identifying the location of the map provided by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178. If the agency amends the map, pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of this section, the notice shall instead identify the location of the amended map.

(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 574, Sec. 10. (AB 211) Effective September 27, 2022.)

June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 26 of 29

LRA
Legislation Factsheet

Inc
reasing Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ)
Area and Designation

Government Code section 51179 requires a local agency to designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high FHSZ within 120 days of receiving the identified FHSZ’s from the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178.

The law does not allow for a local jurisdiction to request changes or provide comments to the State Fire Marshal on the FHSZ designations. However, a local agency may choose to increase the designation of a FHSZ from the FHSZ identified by the State Fire Marshal, or designate areas as having a FHSZ that were not designated in a FHSZ by the State Fire Marshal. This may occur because FHSZ zone edges in the maps and data from the State Fire Marshal are not aligned with parcel boundaries or roads that some may consider for lines of convenance when adopting ordinances. A local agency is not allowed to reduce the designation of a FHSZ classification from the State Fire Marshal (i.e. a local agency cannot make an area designated as High by the State Fire Marshal, Moderate in its adopted ordinance).

However, a local jurisdiction can increase the designation from the one identified by the State Fire Marshal. If a local agency decides to increase the designation of a FHSZ, it may do so if it does the following:

1. If increasing the designation to Very High, a local agency must make a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Government Code section 51182 are necessary for effective fire protection.

2. If increasing the designation to Moderate or High, a local agency may do this at its discretion.

If a local agency decides to include areas in its FHSZ adopted ordinance not identified as being in a FHSZ by the State Fire Marshal, it may include those areas if it does the following:

1. If including areas not identified as being in a FHSZ and designating it as Very High, a local agency must make a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Government Code section 51182 are necessary for effective fire protection.

2. If including areas not identified as being in a FHSZ and designating it as Moderate or High, a local agency may do this at its discretion.

June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 27 of 29

LRA
Legislation Factsheet

June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 28 of 29
June 10, 2025
Item #11 Page 29 of 29

ORDINANCE TO ADOPT THE
2025 FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAP
Michael Calderwood
Fire Chief
Darcy Davidson
Fire Marshal
June 10, 2025
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2 ITEM 11: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
Map transmitted by CAL FIRE to Carlsbad March 24, 2025 Within 30 days, a local agency shall make the
information available for public review and comment
Shall designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and
very high fire hazard severity zones within 120 days
Transmit to the California Board of Forestry within 30
days after adoption of the ordinance

LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS & TIMELINE FOR MAP ADOPTION
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City of Carlsbad Website:

Fire Hazard Severity Zones and
Defensible Space City Manager Community Update:

Mar
ch 27, 2025
ITEM 11: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
3 {city of
Carlsbad
Cal i fornia
f ire
Abou t
fire & Life Safety
Wildfire Mitigation
Home Fire Safety
Smoke and C.ubon Monoxide
Al,lfmlns t.i,llation
FireSafo C.ul-.bad Program
Fire Permits
Annuill Fire Inspection
Program
Public Educ.ition
Batte')' Safety
Emergency Preparedness
Com mu My Programs
Career Opportun ities
O&A
Fire Hu.ird Shentylon e M.ip
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Fire Hazard Severity Zones and Defensible
Space
i!J f!!!!.! .. l"H<ID.Kk a s~are&l!.ootma <k ton1S1le aa The Carlsbad Fire Departmen t relies on a partnersh ip wit h the commun ity to keep the city safe from wildfire. Our Community Risk Reduction Bureau takes a proacti ve approach to mitiga te hazards with in the City of Carlsbad, with our Fire & Life Safety Division conducting annual inspections on privately owned open space, working with homeowners ' associations on prope rty mainten ance and informing residents about the importance of wildf ire prevention.

For more information or to schedule an in•person or virt ual presentation, contact the City of Carlsbad Wildfire Risk Mitigation Specialist via email or phone at 442·339·2669.

Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map updates
CAL FIRE's Office of the State Fire Marshal recently updated the state's Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) Maps for Local Responsibility Areas, which includes Carlsbad. This is the first update since the city adopted the current maps in 2007. The state upda ted these maps to more accurately reflect the zones in California that are susceptible to wildfire.

What are Fire Hazard Severity Zones?
The State Fire Marshal is required to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, or very high fire hazard severity zones. These designat ions are determined by a computer model that uses modern science and local climate data to assess factors that have been ident ified as ma1or causes of wildfire spread such as: vegetation type and density, slope, weather, winds, and historical fire data.

The hazard rating in the local responsibility area (LRA) also reflects flame and ember intrusion hazards from adjacent wildlands and from flammab le veqetation in the urban area B Forward to • friend
News from the City of Carlsbad I March 27, 2025
On Monday, Cal Fire released its updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maR for Southern California, which classifies areas of Carlsbad that are most susceptible to wildfire.

You can view Ql.!LUQdated webpage that explains the map, gives tips on things you can do to protect your home from wildfires and answers some common questions.

I'd also like to point you to a video with our Fire Marshal giving an overview of the map and the safety measures we're taking. More details are below. . '-' ., - ...
··- .- ... - - -· - -· -- .: - - -Updated fire~ • --- .. . ~ --~ . - · -~ -: zone map .· . -· ..
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What the state 's updated fire zone map means for Carlsbad Cal Fire's updated Fire Hazard Severity..lonfillli!R classifies areas of Carlsbad as moderate, high and very high when it comes to levels of susceptibility to wildfire The state agency has updated the fire hazard severity .zone..Illi!R for the first time since 2007 to ensure that fire-preventative codes, regulations and laws apply in the most appropriate areas. Specifically, the map is accounting for conditions such as vegetation type, density, terrain, weather, winds and fire history. This is also the first time the map is classifying areas with moderate and high fire hazard severity zones within a local responsibility area.

The zones represent the fire hazard levels of an area based on the likelihood of a fire reaching it and its potential intensity. They do not indicate the risk of individual properties being damaged in a wildfire.
4 ITEM 11: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
Map transmitted by CAL FIRE to Carlsbad March 24, 2025 Within 30 days, a local agency shall make the
information available for public review and comment.

Shall designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and
very high fire hazard severity zones within 120 days
Transmit to the California Board of Forestry within 30
days after adoption of the ordinance
LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS & TIMELINE FOR MAP ADOPTION (CONT.) 5 Fire hazard severity zones are geographical
areas with the highest potential for wildfires.

ITEM 11: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps

MODERATE
• Currently no requirements
HIGH
• Real Estate Disclosures at time of sale (fire inspection required) • Ignition-resistant building construction materials and methods for new construction

VERY HIGH
In addition to all requirements listed above:
• Defensible space shall be provided and maintained in
accordance with the Fire Code
• Title 14 State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations (property development standards such as road widths and water supply)

BUILDING AND FIRE CODE REQUIREMENTS
\ \ \ \
6 How FHZ designations are determined
• Fire modeling utilizing scientific data, to estimate the probability of an area burning and the expected fire behavior • Fire hazard score is based on factors such as:
o Fire history
o Vegetation
o Predicted flame length
o Ember production and movement
o Topography
o Weather patterns
ITEM 11: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
Map created in 2009
7 ITEM 11: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
Moderate High Very High
2025 1,796 4,298 8,170
2009 n/a n/a 4,840
Acres mapped as FHSZ in Carlsbad
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Very High Fire Hazard S • As Recommended \veCrA1ty Zones in LRA Y [FIRE 8 STRUCTURES MAPPED WITH MULTIPLE HAZARD ZONES
When multiple fire hazard severity zones overlap a structure, existing or proposed, the structure’s designation is based on the most severe zone overlapping that structure.

ITEM 11: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
City of Carlsbad – Faraday building Residential structure 9 Insurance Coverage and Hazard vs. Risk
• Hazard classification (FHSZ Map) is based on the physical condition that creates a likelihood and expected fire
behavior over a 30-to-50-year period, without considering short-term mitigation efforts such as fuel reduction.
• Risk (insurance models) is the potential damage that a fire can do to the area under current conditions, including fuel reduction, defensible space, or ignition-resistant building construction.

ITEM 11: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
10 ITEM 11: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
La Costa Alta is Carlsbad's
f
irst Firewise USA community
Learn About
• Fire Hazard Severity
Zone maps
• Wild fire prevention
• Emergency preparedness
• Defensible space &
home hardening
• Fire sma rt landscaping
• Wildfi re Urban Interface
Brush Rig
Community
Connection

WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS
Saturday, May 10
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

City of Carlsbad Fire Sta tion 3
3465 Trailblazer Way

JOIN US FOR AN

INFORMATIVE EVENT
Meet the experts who help keep our
community wi ldfir e-ready - including
staff from the Fire Department, Parks &
Recreation and Habitat Management.
11 RECOMMENDED ACTION & NEXT STEPS
ITEM 11: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
Recommended Actions
• Take public input, close the public hearing, and introduce the ordinance Next Steps
• If the ordinance is approved, the City Clerk will prepare the ordinance for adoption at the next regular City Council meeting
• Once adopted, the City Clerk will publish the ordinance or a summary of the ordinance in a newspaper of general circulation within 15 days • The ordinance will be effective 30 days after its adoption 12 QUESTIONS
ITEM 11: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps

Carlsbad City CouncilJune 10, 2025

Carlsbad City Council
June 10, 2025