Notice of State of California Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map

State law requires the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection to identify areas in the state which are very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent criteria. The Director has provided the City of Saratoga with a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map (the “State Map”) identifying the areas in the City considered to be very high fire hazard severity zones.

As required by state law, the City is making this information available for public review. The City has created a map (the “City Map”) showing the areas identified by the State as very high fire hazard severity zones in red. A copy of this map can be downloaded from the City’s website or obtained from the City’s Building Department at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070.

People living within the very high fire hazard severity zones delineated on the State Map are subject to the provisions in the California Government Code sections 51175 through 51189. These sections of the state law contain requirements for, among other things, creating defensible space and disclosing the fact that property is located in a very high fire hazard severity zone to prospective purchasers. The full text of these sections is available here:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=51001-52000&file=51175-51189.

Additional information is available on the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s website at: http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_prevention/fire_prevention_wildland.php#Local

In addition, State law requires the City to adopt the State Map with any modifications it deems necessary. City staff has consulted with the Fire Departments and is recommending that the City Council modify the State Map to include all areas in Saratoga previously designated as high fire hazard severity zones with the addition of the new areas recommended by the State. The City Map available on the City’s website and at the City’s Building Department shows these recommended modifications in orange. The City welcomes comments, suggestions and questions. Please direct them to Brad Lind, the City’s Building Official, at bradlind@saratoga.ca.us

Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map (3.2 MB) To View Quickly, Right-Click and Select "Save As"