Wildfire Zones: Hayward vs Oakland
How do wildfire zones rules compare between Hayward, CA and Oakland, CA?
Hayward and Oakland have similar restriction levels.
Hayward, CA
Alameda County
Hayward's eastern foothills are mapped as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone by CAL FIRE, triggering defensible space and building code requirements.
View full Hayward 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 | Hayward | Oakland |
|---|---|---|
| Zone type | VHFHSZ (LRA) | - |
| Affected areas | East foothills | - |
| Building code | Chapter 7A | - |
| Disclosure | AB 38 required | - |
| Roofing | Class A mandatory | - |
| - | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Hayward FAQ
Is all of Hayward in the VHFHSZ?
No. Only the eastern hillside neighborhoods. Flatland Hayward west of the hills is not in the VHFHSZ.
Does AB 38 apply to my sale?
Yes if the home is in the VHFHSZ; sellers must disclose and may need to demonstrate defensible space compliance.
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 Hayward 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