Taft council hears Cal Fire hazard‑zone maps; officials, residents press for clarity on insurance and building rules

Kern County Fire officials on Tuesday told the Taft City Council that updated wildfire hazard severity zone maps created by the state will require the city to adopt high and moderate zones under California law, and that the changes will affect building standards and real‑estate disclosures for properties in those zones.

The maps “are required by Government Code 51178 and 51179,” Sean Riley, deputy fire marshal with the Kern County Fire Department, said during a presentation. Riley said the new map process incorporated fire history through 2020, vegetation, predicted flame length, ember transport, slope and prevailing wind data and that the state’s Cal Fire unit produced the maps and sends them to local jurisdictions for adoption.

The update — tied to Senate Bill 63 and a 2021 change in state rules — would require the city to adopt high and moderate designations for its local responsibility area (LRA). In high zones, the council would also be required by state law to ensure sellers provide an AB 38 hazard disclosure when they sell property; new construction in high zones would have to meet Chapter 7A / California residential code standards (the county and city currently follow the California Building Code and residential code CRC R337), officials said. Moderate zones require adoption of the maps only; they do not carry the disclosure or new‑construction standards…