Fire Hazard Severity Zone lookup

Is your address in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone?

A Fire Hazard Severity Zone is CAL FIRE's mapped wildfire hazard rating for an area: Moderate, High or Very High. It matters for fences because the City of San Diego's Zone 0 fence rules (Fire-Rescue Standard D-2) apply in Very High zones. Enter a San Diego County address to see the mapped zone.

Address / FHSZ lookup 01

Check your address

See whether an address point intersects CAL FIRE's current public Fire Hazard Severity Zone layers before you plan a fence-to-structure transition.

Layer A: LRA recommendations · all 2025 phases
Layer B: SRA zones · effective April 1, 2024
Scope: Point guidance, not parcel or code determination

Awaiting map point

Ready for an address

Choose an address match or press Enter. The checker tests both the current LRA and SRA public layers and reports only what the mapped point returns.

Unofficial convenience lookup based on public CAL FIRE map services — confirm with your AHJ; not a compliance determination.

Reading the result

What each result means near the house

How each result shapes planning for fences and gates within the first five feet of a structure.

Very High: The strictest planning case. In the City of San Diego, SDMC §512.0604 defines Zone 0; for new structures in a VHFHSZ, Fire-Rescue Standard D-2 requires new fences and gates in Zone 0 to be noncombustible, with a 5-ft noncombustible transitional span where a fence attaches to the structure. The Zone 0 Guidelines for Existing Structures call for the same 5-ft span on an existing fence attached perpendicular to the house (as of September 2026). Other San Diego County jurisdictions can differ.
High: A mapped High designation does not by itself determine that Zone 0 applies. The City of San Diego's Zone 0 fence standard and guidelines are written for VHFHSZ parcels; other jurisdictions and fire-safety rules may differ. We still review any fence-to-structure connection and confirm it with the AHJ.
Moderate: As with High, the designation alone does not determine that Zone 0 applies. Material choice near the house usually turns on exposure, upkeep, and the architecture, with any fence-to-structure connection confirmed with the AHJ.
Not in a mapped zone: The point did not intersect the 2025 LRA or 2024 SRA layers. Local rules may still apply; see the questions below.

LRA or SRA

Local Responsibility Area (LRA) land lies within cities and some counties where the local fire department has responsibility; the checker reads CAL FIRE's LRA recommendations, all 2025 phases. State Responsibility Area (SRA) land is where CAL FIRE has primary fire protection responsibility; the checker reads the adopted SRA zones, effective April 1, 2024.

Near the structure

Non-combustible systems we build

Within the first five feet of a structure, noncombustible materials like aluminum, steel, masonry block, and gabion are commonly considered. Final material acceptance should be verified with your local AHJ.

Aluminum fencing

6063-T6 aluminum. Non-combustible (ASTM E136); fire performance still depends on the specific product and test reports.

Steel fencing

Galvanized, powder-coated steel. Non-combustible (ASTM E136); specified per product documentation.

Block walls

Masonry (CMU) block. Non-combustible (ASTM E136); confirm project-specific acceptance with your AHJ.

Gabion walls

Stone-filled steel mesh baskets with non-combustible components; confirm project-specific acceptance with your AHJ.

Gates follow the same materials: manual side-yard, pedestrian, and pool gates in aluminum or steel. For rule tables and citations, see Zone 0 fence and gate planning and the wildfire defense guide.

Common questions

About the checker

Is this an official fire hazard determination?

No. The checker is an unofficial convenience lookup based on public CAL FIRE map services. It tests one geocoded map point, not your parcel boundary, and it is not a compliance determination. Confirm the designation with your AHJ or the official CAL FIRE viewer.

What if my address is not in a mapped zone?

It does not mean no rules apply. Local wildfire, WUI, defensible-space, or fence rules may still apply, and local agencies may adopt additional areas or use maps that differ from the statewide services. Confirm with the authority having jurisdiction.

Does Zone 0 apply to my fence?

It depends on the parcel and the jurisdiction. In the City of San Diego, SDMC §512.0604 defines Zone 0 and applies to new structures applying for a building permit on or after February 28, 2026, and to existing structures one year later. The fence and gate specifics come from Fire-Rescue Standard D-2 for new structures in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and from the Zone 0 Guidelines for Existing Structures. The statewide Board of Forestry rule was adopted as emergency regulations on August 19, 2026 and is not yet in effect as of September 2026. Confirm current requirements with your AHJ.

What does a site review include?

We walk the property with you, reading sight lines, access, slope, and coastal or hillside exposure. Near the house we look at the first five feet: where fencing meets the building, gate locations, and any Zone 0-sensitive transitions, and we can help interpret the parcel's classification. A written scope follows, with materials, spans, and finish detailed.

Plan the first five feet

We review where fences and gates meet the house, then follow with a written scope for noncombustible options that suit the architecture.

Book a Site Review

Site reviews and estimates are always free.