Local Responsibility Fire Hazard Severity Zone

At the Town Council meeting of June 6, 2025, the Council adopted a resolution (Resolution 2025-037) to approve the Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map to comply with State Government Code Section 51178 and an amendment of the General Plan Hazards and Safety Element to incorporate the Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map. 

At the Town Council meeting of June 17, 2025, the Council adopted an ordinance (Ordinance 2374) approving the Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map to comply with State Government Code Section 51178. 

Town of Los Gatos Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map 2025

LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREA LEGISLATION REQUIREMENTS:

  1. Assembly Bill 337: The bill would require local agencies, as defined, to designate, by ordinance, very high fire hazard severity zones in their jurisdiction after receiving recommendations from the director, except as prescribed. The bill would authorize local agencies to include or exclude areas following certain findings and would require changes made by local agencies to be final and not rebuttable by the director. By requiring local agencies to designate very high fire hazard severity zones within their jurisdictions, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the State Fire Marshal to prepare and adopt a model ordinance that provides for the establishment of any high fire hazard security zones. The bill would authorize local agencies to exempt certain structures and would exempt certain land or water areas.
  2. Senate Bill 63: Existing law requires the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection to identify areas of the state as very high fire hazard severity zones based on specified criteria. Existing law requires a local agency, within 30 days after receiving a transmittal from the director that identifies very high fire hazard severity zones, to make the information available for public review, as provided. This bill, among other things, would also require the director to identify areas of the state as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones. The bill would modify the factors the director is required to use to identify areas into fire hazard severity zones, as provided. The bill would require a local agency to make this information available for public review and comment, as provided. By expanding the responsibility of a local agency, the bill would impose a state mandated local program.
  3. Government Code section 51179: Requires a local agency to designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high FHSZ within 120 days of receiving the identified FHSZ’s from the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178.

RESOURCES:

LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS :

  1. What is the process for developing Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the Local Responsibility Area? CAL FIRE uses the same modeling data that is used to map the State Responsibility Area. The map, along with a model ordinance, are then sent to the governing body for adoption. 
  2. How are the new Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas impacting development? Many of the changes expanding Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas have been supported by the building industry. CAL FIRE works closely with the building industry when setting various building codes and defensible space requirements, so we are working together to not affect development itself but make sure development matches the hazards of that area. 
  3. When will the Local Responsibility Area Map be released? The Local Responsibility Area map process will happen after the State Responsibility Area process has been completed, which is estimated to occur in winter of 2025. 
  4. Why haven't Moderate and High Fire Hazard Severity Zone classes been classified before in the Local Responsibility Area? New legislation, Senate Bill 63 (Stern, 2021), now requires the adoption of all three Fire Hazard Severity Zone classes in the Local Responsibility Area. Previously only Very High Fire Severity Zones were required for adoption in the Local Responsibility Areas. 

Meetings

All meeting materials can be accessed on the Town's Meeting Agenda and Minutes Webpage.

  • General Plan Committee: May 14, 2025 - The Committee recommended adoption of the Resolution and Ordiance.
  • Planning Commission: My 28, 2025 - The Commission recommended adoption of the Resolution and Ordinance. 
  • Town Council: June 3, 2025 - Town Council Adopted the Resolution. The Ordinance will be adopted at the Council Meeting of June 17, 2025.
  • Town Council: June 17, 2025 - Town Council Adopted the Ordinance.