Fire Hazard
Severity Zone
(FHSZ) Maps
Fire Chief Eric McCoy
6/3/2026
Table of Contents
• Introduction to the FHSZ Maps
• Zone Requirements
• Public Review and Comment
• Map Adoption
Introduction to
the FHSZ Map
Background
• CAL FIRE Updates and Publishes Maps
• Cal Fire Updates and publishes hazard maps
based on new modeling
• Publish date – 3/24/25
• Once hazard maps are published City of Huntington
Beach
• Requests Public Comment within 30 days
• Adopts an Ordinance within 120 days
Map
Map
Map
Zone
Requirements
Moderate FHSZ
• No requirements at this time.
• Expect new requirements in the future
High FHSZ
• Impact on real estate transactions on parcels having
all or portion of high FHSZ
• Acknowledge in Natural Hazard Statement
• Buyer to receive a report of inspection of Defensible Space paid by Seller
• Fire Department is in process of developing an
inspection program with cost recovery
• Expect new requirements in the future
Building Code
• Existing regulations are in Building Code, section 7A “Materials and Construction Methods for Exterior Wildfire Exposure”
• New California Wildland-Urban Interface Code will be
adopted and go into effect Jan 1, 2026 with construction requirements for FHSZs
• High is likely to be included
• Moderate may be included
• Waiting for guidance from CalFire Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM)
Public Review
and Comments
Process
• Within 30 days of map issuance
• StoryMap created to share maps and information
• Survey created to capture responses
• Direct notification to Brightwater HOA
• Surf City Weekly email from City Manager’s Office to
85K subscribed individuals
• Social media post with link to map and survey
• Updated Fire Department web site to include new
section for Fire Hazard Severity Zone information
Results
• No public comments received
• StoryMap website accessed 1,015 times
Map Adoption
Ordinance
• Ordinance – Map Adoption
• No allowance for deviation, except to increase the severity • We are not extending (to parcel line) or adding new Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Area not included in the FHSZ maps • Impact on City
• Minimal
• Impact on Residents and Property Owners
• Unknown impact on insurance rates
• Sellers pay for a defensible space inspection
• Higher cost for WUI construction requirements
• Applies to "New Buildings"
Next Steps
After Adoption
• Develop and execute a defensible space inspection
program and new fee for the fee schedule (Fire)
• Outreach the defensible space inspection program to
local realtors and residents (Fire)
• Monitor guidance from CalFire OSFM for construction
requirements for high and moderate (Fire)
• Work with Community Development Department to
overlay map for flagging requirements (Fire & CDD)
Questions?