Wildfire Zones: Costa Mesa vs Garden Grove
How do wildfire zones rules compare between Costa Mesa, CA and Garden Grove, CA?
Garden Grove has fewer restrictions than Costa Mesa.
Costa Mesa, CA
Orange County
Unincorporated Orange County contains extensive Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) as designated by CAL FIRE and adopted by the Board of Supervisors via Ordinance No. 25-015. Canyon and hillside communities face the strictest building and vegetation management requirements.
View full Costa Mesa rules →Garden Grove, CA
Orange County
Garden Grove is a flat, fully urbanized city in central Orange County and First Street rates citywide wildfire risk as Very Low (about 4% of buildings at any risk). The City has not historically been mapped as containing CAL FIRE High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) area, so AB 38 disclosure and statewide defensible-space rules generally do not apply. Verify your parcel against the 2025 LRA FHSZ map before relying on this.
View full Garden Grove rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Costa Mesa | Garden Grove |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinance | No. 25-015 (Aug 2025) | - |
| Zones | Very High, High, Moderate | - |
| Building Code | CBC Ch. 7A / CRC R327 | - |
| Disclosure Required | CC §1103 NHD Statement | - |
| VHFHSZ Areas | Canyon communities | - |
| Citywide Wildfire Risk (First Street) | - | Very Low - approx. 4% of buildings at any risk |
| Topography | - | Flat urban coastal plain - no wildland interface |
| FHSZ Status | - | Not historically mapped High/Very High - verify 2025 LRA map |
| Map Authority | - | CAL FIRE / Office of the State Fire Marshal |
| 2025 Recommended Maps Released | - | March 24, 2025 |
| Defensible Space Statute (if mapped) | - | Public Resources Code 4291 - 100 ft |
| AB 38 Disclosure | - | Civ. Code 1102.19 - applies only in High/VH FHSZ |
| Local Fire Code | - | 2022 CFC adopted at GGMC Chapter 8.18 |
| Fire Authority | - | Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) |
| Verify Parcel | - | OCFA (714) 573-6000 or CAL FIRE FHSZ Viewer |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Costa Mesa FAQ
Is my unincorporated Orange County property in a wildfire zone?
Check the OC Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map adopted under Ordinance No. 25-015. Most canyon and hillside communities (Trabuco Canyon, Silverado, Modjeska, Santiago Canyon) are classified as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
What building requirements apply in Orange County wildfire zones?
Properties in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones must use fire-resistive construction per California Building Code Chapter 7A, including ignition-resistant materials, ember-resistant vents, and fire-rated roofing.
Garden Grove FAQ
Is any part of Garden Grove in a CAL FIRE Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone?
Not historically. Garden Grove is fully urbanized flat terrain and does not appear on the OC Public Works Very High FHSZ in LRA list that captures Anaheim Hills, Yorba Linda, and the eastern foothill cities. CAL FIRE issued recommended 2025 LRA maps on March 24, 2025; verify your parcel before relying on this.
Do AB 38 defensible-space disclosures apply when I sell a Garden Grove home?
AB 38 (Civ. Code 1102.19) only attaches to properties in a State or Local Responsibility Area High or Very High FHSZ. Garden Grove parcels are generally outside those zones, so the AB 38 inspection and disclosure typically do not apply. Confirm with your title or escrow officer using the current CAL FIRE map.
How do I check whether a specific Garden Grove address is in an FHSZ?
Use the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer (osfm.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ) or call the Orange County Fire Authority at (714) 573-6000 and ask the Fire Marshal to confirm with the current adopted map.
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