Wildfire Zones: Mountain View vs Sunnyvale
How do wildfire zones rules compare between Mountain View, CA and Sunnyvale, CA?
Sunnyvale has fewer restrictions than Mountain View.
Mountain View, CA
Santa Clara County
Most of Mountain View sits outside state-mapped Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, but western hillside areas near open space are treated as elevated risk by local fire authorities.
View full Mountain View rules →Sunnyvale, CA
Santa Clara County
Sunnyvale is not located in any Cal Fire Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. The city sits on the flat Santa Clara Valley floor without wildland-urban interface areas requiring special fire hardening.
View full Sunnyvale rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Mountain View | Sunnyvale |
|---|---|---|
| City core | Moderate or no zone | - |
| Foothill edge | Moderate to High zone | - |
| WUI construction | CBC Chapter 7A | - |
| Ember vents | Required in zones | - |
| Map | CAL FIRE FHSZ Viewer | - |
| VHFHSZ designation | - | None |
| State Responsibility Area | - | No |
| Geography | - | Flat valley floor |
| Chapter 7A required | - | No |
| Weed abatement applies | - | Yes |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Mountain View FAQ
How do I check my wildfire zone?
Use the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer and search your Mountain View address to see the current classification.
Do WUI rules affect existing homes?
Chapter 7A generally applies to new construction or substantial remodels in mapped zones, not to unchanged existing homes.
Sunnyvale FAQ
Do I need fire-resistant roofing in Sunnyvale?
Class A roofing is required by the California Building Code statewide, but Chapter 7A hardening for WUI zones does not apply here.
Does my insurance consider Sunnyvale a wildfire risk?
Sunnyvale is a low-risk zone, but insurers may still raise rates based on statewide exposure trends.
Compare other topics
See how Mountain View and Sunnyvale 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