Wildfire Zones: Garden Grove vs Mission Viejo
How do wildfire zones rules compare between Garden Grove, CA and Mission Viejo, CA?
Garden Grove has fewer restrictions than Mission Viejo.
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 →Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County
Portions of Mission Viejo along the eastern and southern hillside edges are designated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones by CAL FIRE and OCFA. Properties in these zones must maintain 100 feet of defensible space, use fire-resistant building materials, and comply with OCFA vegetation management inspection programs. Annual brush clearance is required before fire season.
View full Mission Viejo rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Garden Grove | Mission Viejo |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Defensible Space | - | 100 feet required from structures |
| Zone 1 Clearance | - | 0–30 feet, remove all combustibles |
| Inspections | - | Annual OCFA vegetation management checks |
| Building Materials | - | Class A roof, fire-resistant per CBC Ch. 7A |
| Inspection Period | - | April through June annually |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
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.
Mission Viejo FAQ
Is my Mission Viejo property in a wildfire hazard zone?
Properties along the eastern hillsides near Trabuco Canyon and areas near Oso Parkway may be in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Check the CAL FIRE hazard severity zone map or contact OCFA Community Risk Reduction at (714) 573-6000 for your specific address.
What does defensible space clearance require?
Within 30 feet of your home, remove all dead vegetation, dry leaves, and combustible materials. From 30 to 100 feet, reduce and space vegetation to slow fire spread. Trees should be limbed up 6 feet from the ground and spaced so canopies do not touch.
When does OCFA inspect for brush clearance?
OCFA typically conducts vegetation management inspections from April through June. Property owners in designated zones receive written notices with a compliance deadline. Contact OCFA at (714) 573-6000 if you have questions about your inspection schedule.
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