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Board introduces ordinance to adopt 2025 Local Responsibility Area fire-hazard map for unincorporated Solano
Summary
Supervisors introduced and read by title the county ordinance to adopt CAL FIRE’s updated 2025 Local Responsibility Area (LRA) fire hazard severity zones map. The first-reading action (5-0) begins a state-mandated adoption process that will apply building-code provisions to new construction in LRA-designated areas.
The Solano County Board of Supervisors on May 13 introduced an ordinance to adopt the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (CAL FIRE) updated 2025 Local Responsibility Area (LRA) fire hazard severity zones map for the county’s unincorporated areas.
Director of Resource Management James Vuzic and Building Official Syed Irvani told the board the county received the new LRA maps from CAL FIRE in February and that Government Code sections 51178–51179 require counties to publish and adopt updated maps within a statutory timeframe. Solano County must adopt the maps by June 24 to meet the statutory deadline, staff said.
Irvani summarized what the designation means for property owners and builders: local responsibility areas place new development under defensible-space and wildland-urban interface building standards. For properties in areas designated “high” or “very high” hazard under the LRA map, new construction will be subject to Chapter 7A (noncombustible roof and exterior assemblies, ember-resistant vents, noncombustible siding/decks and related fire-hardening standards) and local fire-safe building requirements including road and access standards.
The county’s new LRA map adds roughly 81,000 acres of LRA in unincorporated territory, staff said; cities collectively received about 23,000 acres of LRA designation. Most of the newly designated LRA acreage in Solano County is classified as “high” rather than “very high.” Areas called out during the briefing included Highway 12 toward Collinsville, Laguna/Mancos Corner areas and pockets near Vacaville and Cordelia. Staff demonstrated an interactive GIS map the county posted to its website for public review.
Irvani told supervisors that the updated hazard maps do not automatically remove insurance or otherwise directly force policy cancellations; insurance companies use different risk-modeling tools for underwriting. The building-code and disclosure consequences apply primarily to new construction in areas now designated as high or very high hazard.
The board introduced the ordinance by title and waived further reading; the motion passed 5-0. Staff must upload the adopted ordinance and maps to the Office of the State Fire Marshal portal after final adoption, and the county will continue public outreach to explain what the changes mean for property owners and developers.
The action is the first reading/introductory step; a subsequent hearing and final adoption will follow the county’s public-notice requirements and the statutory timeline.
