Mono County, CA Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)

Mono County's inhabited unincorporated areas lie within or near mountainous, forested, brush, and grass lands subject to wildfire, and the county is largely a CAL FIRE State Responsibility Area (SRA). California Public Resources Code sections 4201-4204 require CAL FIRE to map Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) - classified Moderate, High, or Very High - across all SRA, based on fuels, slope, and fire weather over a 30-50-year horizon; updated SRA FHSZ maps took effect April 1, 2024. Being in a mapped zone triggers several requirements in unincorporated Mono County: (1) Defensible space under PRC 4291 and the county's Fire Safe Regulation Section 22.150 (30-foot firebreak plus 30-100-foot reduced-fuel zone). (2) Class A roof covering for every new building and all reroofing of existing buildings (Section 22.140). (3) Emergency access road and driveway standards - two 10-foot lanes, maximum 16% grade, turnarounds for long driveways (Section 22.110). (4) Emergency water supply and hydrant/fire-valve placement (Section 22.130). (5) Reflectorized address and road signage (Section 22.120). New construction within the SRA approved after October 1, 1991 must meet these standards (Section 22.030). Sellers must also disclose FHSZ/SRA status to buyers through the statewide Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement. Check your parcel on the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone viewer.