Laguna Woods council approves first reading of state fire-hazard severity maps; very-high zone area grows

The Laguna Woods City Council opened a public hearing and on a unanimous voice vote introduced and gave first reading to an ordinance adopting the California State Fire Marshal27s 2025 fire hazard severity maps for the city, a change that expands areas designated "very high" risk and will change building-code requirements and real-estate disclosures for properties inside those zones.

City staff and the Orange County Fire Authority told the council the state-drawn maps are largely nondiscretionary and must be adopted or replaced with more restrictive local maps, not relaxed. "State law requires the state fire marshal to identify areas as fire hazard severity zones," City Manager Christopher Macon said during the staff report, adding, "Cities and counties have 120 days to adopt those fire hazard severity zones or fire hazard severity zones that are more restrictive than recommended by the state."

Adopting the maps begins a local implementation timetable that includes a second reading and potential adoption by the council on June 18 and a…