What is a Fire Hazard Severity Zone?
California Fire Hazard Severity Zones classify areas based on the physical conditions that influence the likelihood and expected behavior of wildfire. CAL FIRE distinguishes hazard from risk: hazard describes the underlying fire environment, while risk also considers potential damage and mitigation measures.
Why your exact address matters
San Diego County includes State Responsibility Areas, Local Responsibility Areas and federal lands. Do not assume that an entire ZIP code or city has one uniform designation. Use the official CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone viewer or contact the local jurisdiction for the property.
Does being in a hazard zone automatically tell you what work is required?
No. A map designation can be relevant to building standards, disclosure and planning, but the work required for a specific property depends on the applicable code, jurisdiction, project type and other details. For permitted work, verify requirements with the authority having jurisdiction.
Home hardening still matters outside one map label
Wildfire exposure does not stop precisely at a map boundary. Embers can travel ahead of a fire, so practical home-hardening measures can be valuable even when a homeowner is not currently undertaking code-triggered work.
How to use the map as a homeowner
- Look up the exact property rather than relying on the city name
- Note whether the property is in a State or Local Responsibility Area
- Use the map as a planning tool, not as a substitute for local permit guidance
- Pair map information with a physical assessment of the home
San Diego home-hardening priorities
Once you understand the property's context, review the structure itself. Our San Diego home-hardening checklist covers vents, roof and gutters, eaves, decks, openings and defensible space.
Official resources
Use CAL FIRE's Fire Hazard Severity Zone resources for statewide mapping and San Diego County's wildfire-preparedness pages for local information. For a specific address, project or permit, confirm details with the responsible local building or fire authority.
Note: This page is general informational content and is not a legal, insurance, building-code or permitting determination for any individual property.