Wildfire Zones: Castro Valley vs Oakland
How do wildfire zones rules compare between Castro Valley, CA and Oakland, CA?
Castro Valley and Oakland have similar restriction levels.
Castro Valley, CA
Alameda County
Much of east Alameda County including the Oakland Hills, Castro Valley, and Sunol foothills is designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone by CAL FIRE, triggering strict defensible space rules.
View full Castro Valley rules →Oakland, CA
Alameda County
Most of the Oakland Hills east of Highway 13 and 580 is mapped by CAL FIRE as a Local Responsibility Area Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Properties in the VHFHSZ face heightened requirements: 100-foot defensible space, AB 38 natural hazard disclosure at sale, Chapter 7A ignition-resistant construction for new builds and major remodels, and inclusion in the Wildfire Prevention Assessment District.
View full Oakland rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Castro Valley | Oakland |
|---|---|---|
| Zone designation | CAL FIRE VHFHSZ | - |
| Defensible space | PRC 4291, 100 feet | - |
| Building standard | CBC Chapter 7A | - |
| Disclosure | CA Civil Code 1103 | - |
| Historic fire | 1991 Oakland Hills Firestorm | - |
| - | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Castro Valley FAQ
How do I find out if my property is in a VHFHSZ?
Use the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer online or contact the Alameda County Fire Department to confirm your parcel status.
What are the insurance implications?
VHFHSZ properties face higher premiums, non-renewals, and may need the California FAIR Plan; completing home hardening can help qualify for the Safer From Wildfires program discounts.
Oakland FAQ
How do I find out if my Oakland home is in the VHFHSZ?
Check the City's online Fire Zone GIS map or enter your address on the CAL FIRE FHSZ viewer. If your parcel is in the zone, defensible space, Chapter 7A, and AB 38 disclosure requirements apply.
What is AB 38 disclosure?
AB 38 (effective 2021) requires sellers of homes in high or very high fire hazard zones to provide documentation of defensible space compliance and, for homes built before 2010, disclose specified ignition-resistance retrofit items in the Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement.
Compare other topics
See how Castro Valley and Oakland compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool