TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Jason Downs, County Fire Marshal and David Shew, Fire Administrator
REPORT BY: Shana Bagley, Deputy County Counsel
SUBJECT: Adoption of LRA FHSZ Map Ordinance
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt an Ordinance adopting the map developed by the California State Fire Marshal designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Napa County. (No Fiscal Impact)
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BACKGROUND
In June 2023, the California State Fire Marshal developed and released maps for all State Responsibility Area (SRA) lands in California. In February 2025, Governor Newsom issued an executive order mandating that the State Fire Mashal update the Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) Maps per Government Code section 51178. On February 24, 2025, California State Fire Marshal released the updated recommendations for Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas for Napa County. According to Government Code section 51179, local jurisdictions must adopt these maps or impose a more restrictive map within 120 days of receiving recommended map from the State Fire Marshal. Napa County cannot decrease the level of fire hazard severity zone for any area and may only increase the level. Section 51179 allows Napa County, at its discretion, to:
(a) include areas not identified as Very High FHSZs, as Very High following a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Government Code section 51182 (i.e., defensible space) are necessary for effective fire protection within the area.
(b) include areas not identified as Moderate and High FHSZs, as Moderate and High.
Adoption of this ordinance would continue to require properties in specific fire hazard severity zones to implement ignition resistant construction building standards, maintain defensible space, and disclose natural hazard at the time of sale. The 2025 LRA FHSZ Map adds new areas of Napa County that would be subject to these requirements.
For example, 2022 California Building Code, Chapter 7A, adopted by Napa County, requires new buildings built in all SRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones and in LRA Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones be designed and built to resist the intrusion of flames and burning embers projected by a vegetation fire. The ignition resistant construction standards include noncombustible or ignition resistant material for exterior walls and decks, rated windows, and exterior doors, attic vents that resist the intrusion of flame and burning embers, and firestopping and valley flashing on roofs and gutters that prevent the accumulation of leaves and debris.
The defensible space that is required for properties in fire hazard severity zones is already required by the California Fire Code adopted by Napa County and by the Fire Hazard Abatement Ordinance.
Government Code section 51183.5 also requires that the transferor of real property that is located within a very high fire hazard severity zone shall disclose to any prospective transferee the fact that the property is located within a very high fire hazard severity zone.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: This type of project does not have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. [See Class 8 (“Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment”) and see Class 4 (“Fuel Management Activities Within 100 Feet of Structures to Reduce the Volume of Flammable Vegetation”) which may be found in the guidelines for the implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act at California Code of Regulations, title 14, sections 15308 and 15304, subd. (i), respectively.]