The Berkeley Hills are designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone by CAL FIRE. Enhanced defensible space, WUI building codes, and ember-resistant construction are mandatory.
CAL FIRE designates most of the Berkeley Hills as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ), a status memorialized after the October 1991 Oakland Hills Firestorm killed 25 people and destroyed 3,000 homes just south of the Berkeley city line. Under BMC Chapter 19.48 and California Fire Code Chapter 7A (Wildland-Urban Interface), any new construction or substantial remodel in the VHFHSZ must use Class A roofing, ember-resistant vents (1/8-inch mesh max), non-combustible siding within 10 feet of windows, tempered dual-pane glass, and enclosed eaves. Decks within 10 feet of the home must be heavy timber, non-combustible, or fire-retardant-treated. PRC 4291 defensible space (100 feet, three zones) is mandatory. AB 3074 added the Zone 0 ember-resistant 0-5 foot requirement. Properties are inspected annually by Berkeley Fire. Real estate transfers in the VHFHSZ require AB 38 hazard disclosure and a defensible space compliance inspection before close of escrow. Contact BFD at (510) 981-2489.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley has no municipal ordinance limiting lawn ornaments, statues, or yard art on private property. HOA architectural guidelines under the Davis-Stirling ...
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley has no municipal ordinance limiting inflatable holiday decorations on private property. HOA architectural rules under the Davis-Stirling Act apply i...
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley has no municipal ordinance limiting holiday lights on private residential property. Restrictions come from HOA architectural rules under the Davis-S...
Berkeley, CA
Permanent outdoor kitchens in Berkeley require building, plumbing, electrical, and/or gas permits under BMC Chapter 19.28 (Building Code) when they include u...
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley treats outdoor smokers as open-flame cooking devices under California Fire Code 308.1.4 as adopted in BMC 19.48. Multifamily balcony setbacks (10 ft...
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley enforces the California Fire Code (CFC) as adopted in BMC Chapter 19.48. CFC 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking on combustible balconies or within...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle wildfire zones.
See how Berkeley's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.