More than half of Santa Cruz County residents live in the Wildland Urban Interface - one of the highest shares in California. CAL FIRE maps designate most rural parcels as Moderate-to-High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, with Very High zones in Bonny Doon, Boulder Creek, Summit Road, Aptos Hills, and north of Corralitos. WUI building standards (CBC Chapter 7A) and SCCC 7.92 apply.
After the August 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire burned 86,509 acres across Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties and destroyed 1,490 structures, wildfire-zone rules tightened. CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps cover State Responsibility Areas (SRAs, regulated by CAL FIRE) and Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs, regulated by County/cities/fire districts); a small Federal Responsibility Area exists at Big Basin. Most county parcels are classified Moderate or High FHSZ, with Very High in Bonny Doon, Boulder Creek, Summit Road, the Aptos Hills, and north of Corralitos. In any Very High FHSZ or WUI parcel, new construction must comply with California Building Code Chapter 7A (ignition-resistant exterior walls, Class A roofs, ember-resistant vents, dual-paned windows, decking). SCCC 7.92 adopts the CFC including WUI provisions, and the County's Sustainability Update added stricter rebuild and grading rules in burn zones. Per Cal. PRC 4291, 100-foot defensible space applies in SRAs.
Building or rebuilding without CBC Chapter 7A compliance in a Very High FHSZ or WUI is a code violation triggering stop-work orders, denial of certificate of occupancy, and abatement; insurers may deny coverage. Failure to disclose FHSZ status when selling property violates Cal. Civ Code Section 1103 and exposes the seller to civil liability.
Santa Cruz County, CA
Persistent barking dogs in unincorporated Santa Cruz County are enforced under SCCC Chapter 8.30 (Noise) and Title 6 (Animals). Barking audible 150 feet past...
Santa Cruz County, CA
Santa Cruz County Code Chapter 8.30 (Noise) prohibits any offensive noise between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. in unincorporated areas (including Aptos, Soquel, ...
Santa Cruz County, CA
In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, RVs, boats, and oversized vehicles are regulated under SCCC Title 9 (Vehicles and Traffic) and Title 13 (Zoning). Overni...
Santa Cruz County, CA
Under SCCC Title 6 (Animals), chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, other fowl, rabbits, and guinea pigs are allowed in the unincorporated county only if they can...
Santa Cruz County, CA
Santa Cruz County Code Title 6 (Animals) requires dogs to be under physical restraint - leash, tether, or in a person's grasp - whenever off the owner's prop...
Santa Cruz County, CA
SCCC Chapter 16.34 (Significant Trees Protection) protects trees in the Coastal Zone of Santa Cruz County. Any tree at least 20 inches d.b.h. (about 5 ft cir...
See how Santa Cruz County's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
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