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2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map
On March 24, 2025, The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFIRE) and the Office of the State Fire Marshall (OSFM) released the 2025 Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) Maps for Southern California. The draft maps designate portions of Rancho Santa Margarita within Very High, High, and Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
The map is currently available for public review and comment. To comment on the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map for Rancho Santa Margarita, please use the form below.
The City is required to adopt the map by ordinance within 120 days, or by July 22, 2025. The City Council will consider an ordinance to adopt the map within the coming months. Please watch this page for additional updates.
Additional information is available on CalFire's Fire Hazard Severity Zones website.
Check out the Interactive Map Viewer, where you can search for your address. To search, click the magnifying glass icon in the upper left-hand corner.
Comment Form
Additional Information
What is a Fire Hazard Severity Zone?
The Office of the State Fire Marshall is required by State law to identify areas as Moderate, High, and Very High Hazard Severity Zones based on consistent statewide criteria.
Is there an easy way to determine the Fire Hazard Severity Zone of my property?
You can search by address to find your current designation on the website: osfm.fire.ca.gov/fhsz
What is the difference between SRA and LRA?
State Responsibility Area (SRA) is a legal term defining the area where the State has financial responsibility for wildland fire protection and prevention. Local Responsibility Area (LRA) includes incorporated cities where the local government is responsible for wildland fire protection.
Will the new Fire Hazard Severity Zones affect my ability to get or maintain insurance?
The following information was provided by the California Department of Insurance:
Q&A - Insurance & CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps (English)
Q&A - Insurance & CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps (Spanish)
For more information, please call the Department of Insurance hotline at 1-800-927-4357 or visit their website at http://www.insurance.ca.gov.
Is it possible to modify the draft maps?
According to State law, a local agency may only propose to increase the level of fire severity as identified by CalFire for any area within their jurisdiction. Fire hazard severity cannot be decreased.
What are requirements for properties within a designated FHSZ?
Properties designated on the FHSZ maps are subject to specific planning and development standards and disclosure requirements including:
• Building standards for new construction in the Wildland-Urban Interface
• Defensible space requirements
• Natural hazard real estate disclosure
• Property development standards such as road widths, water supply and signage
• Consideration in city and county general plans
Review the FAQs linked above, or visit www.osfm.fire.ca.gov/fhsz