Title
Adopt an ordinance to designate the Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the unincorporated areas of Monterey County as recommended by the California State Fire Marshal pursuant to Government Code section 51178.
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RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt an ordinance to designate the Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the unincorporated areas of Monterey County as recommended by the California State Fire Marshal pursuant to Government Code section 51178.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On August 5, 2025, the Board of Supervisors introduced and waived first reading of the ordinance and advanced the ordinance for consideration of adoption at the meeting on August 19, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.
California Government Code section 51178 requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. The State Fire Marshal has released updated 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for Local Responsibility Areas across the state, including recommendations for unincorporated Monterey County. Government Code sections 51178.5 and 51179 require that local agencies make fire hazard severity zones available for public review and comment in a format understandable and accessible to the general public, including but not limited to maps, and that a local agency by ordinance designate fire severity zones in its jurisdiction. The County complied by posting the maps on the Monterey County website at:
The FHSZ map identifies areas as moderate, high, or very high fire hazard severity zones, using consistent statewide criteria. Designations are based on factors such as fuel loading, slope, fire weath...
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