ORDINANCE NO. 2025-1519
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE,
CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES AS
RECOMMENDED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51178 Whereas, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), pursuant to Government Code Section 51178, has developed updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for areas within Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs); and Whereas, Government Code Sections 51175 through 51189 require local jurisdictions to adopt the FHSZ maps by ordinance, and to enforce the building standards for new structures in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones as established in the California Building Code and California Fire Code; and
Whereas, adoption of the FHSZ map will help the City reduce the risk of wildfire through updated planning and building standards and enable better protection of life, property, and natural resources; and
Whereas, the City of Lake Elsinore desires to adopt the FHSZ map as recommended by CAL FIRE to comply with state law and to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the community.
THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are hereby incorporated into these findings by this reference.
Section 2: The City Council hereby finds and determines that the Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (Cal. Publ. Res. Code §§21000 et seq. “CEQA”) and the State CEQA Guidelines (14. Cal. Code Regs §§15000 et seq.), specifically pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2), 15060(c)(3), and 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, because there is no possibility that it may have a significant effect on the environment, and because it is not a “project” as that term is defined in Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
Section 3: Designation of Fire Hazard Severity Zones
The City of Lake Elsinore hereby adopts and designates the Fire Hazard Severity Zones within the City as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and presented in the map titled:
“City of Lake Elsinore Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map,” as maintained and published by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
This map is incorporated herein as “Exhibit A” and shall serve as the official FHSZ designation within the City of Lake Elsinore's Local Responsibility Area.
Ord. No. 2025-1519
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3 Section 4: Availability of the Map
The official Fire Hazard Severity Zones map is available for public review:
•In the Office of the City Clerk, City of Lake Elsinore, located at 130 South Main Street, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530; and
•Electronically on the City’s official website at: https://www.lake-elsinore.org/ Section 5: Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or its application is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, sections, or applications of the Ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end each phrase, section, sentence, or word is declared to be severable.
Section 6: Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective at 12:01 a.m. on the thirty-first (31st) day after the date of adoption.
Section 7: Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and shall cause a synopsis of the same to be published according to law.
Passed, Approved, and Adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Lake Elsinore, California, on this 9th day of September 2025.
Brian Tisdale
Mayor
Attest:
Candice Alvarez, MMC
City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE )
I, Candice Alvarez, MMC, City Clerk of the City of Lake Elsinore, California, do hereby certify that Ordinance No. 2024-1519 was introduced by the City Council of the City of Lake Elsinore, California, at its Regular meeting of August 26, 2025, and adopted at its Regular meeting of September 9, 2025, and that the same was adopted by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Candice Alvarez, MMC
City Clerk