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Council introduces ordinance adopting CAL FIRE’s 2025 fire‑hazard severity maps; public warned of Zone 0 rules
Summary
Laguna Beach introduced an ordinance to adopt CAL FIRE’s 2025 fire‑hazard severity zone maps for Local Responsibility Areas, a state‑required step that updates which properties are considered moderate, high or very high wildfire risk.
The Laguna Beach City Council introduced — and directed staff to bring back for adoption on the consent calendar — an ordinance adding the California Department of Forestry (CAL FIRE) 2025 fire hazard severity designations for Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) to the city municipal code. City fire staff told the council the action meets a state legal obligation to adopt the maps within 120 days of CAL FIRE’s formal transmission.
What the maps do: CAL FIRE’s 2025 LRA maps classify portions of the city as moderate, high, or very high wildfire hazard severity based on long‑term fire science: vegetation, slope, ember transport modeling and historic fire behavior. The update reduces very‑high acreage within Laguna Beach slightly versus the previous (2011) maps but establishes previously unclassified moderate and high zones in areas north of downtown, inland downtown blocks and in parts of South Laguna east of Glen Eyrie Street.
Why it matters: Properties located in high and very‑high hazard zones are now subject to state‑mandated building and defensible‑space measures. City staff noted Laguna Beach already requires many ‘‘hardening’’ standards (ember‑resistant venting, ignition‑resistant materials) but emphasized two near‑term consequences residents should know: (1) sellers in high/very‑high zones must complete a brush‑clearance inspection and provide documentation to buyers under AB 38; and (2) California’s forthcoming “Zone 0” rule (requiring removal of combustible materials within five feet of a structure) will impose new obligations on property owners in affected zones when the state finalizes implementing regulations (expected by late 2025).
Council reaction and options: Councilmembers asked whether the city could apply stricter local rules (it can) and whether staff could enforce AB 38 post‑closing if owners do not complete required clearance work (staff said city enforcement is possible through a local ordinance and recommended further study). Fire staff said adoption is required under Government Code section 51179; the ordinance introduction keeps the city compliant and preserves grant funding eligibility.
Next steps: The council introduced and waived the reading of the ordinance at the meeting; the item will return for formal adoption on the consent calendar at a subsequent council meeting. Staff will update the city website with an interactive link to the CAL FIRE map and promised public outreach and a FAQ so property owners can check whether their address falls into the updated designations.
Provenance (high‑level): Staff presentation and council Q&A occurred during the meeting’s Item 17; council voted to introduce the ordinance and send it to consent for formal adoption following required public notice. No immediate enforcement changes were adopted at the meeting.
