SLO County contains extensive High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, especially in coastal canyons, the Santa Lucia range, and inland chaparral. New construction must comply with California Building Code Chapter 7A wildland-urban interface standards including Class A roofing, ember-resistant vents, and dual-pane tempered glass.
Cal Fire designates Fire Hazard Severity Zones across SLO County's State Responsibility Area, with vast High and Very High zones covering the Santa Lucia Mountains, Los Padres National Forest interface, Cambria pine forest, See Canyon, and the Nipomo Mesa. Under California Building Code Chapter 7A and Title 16 of the County Code, new construction and major remodels in these zones require: Class A fire-rated roofing, ember-resistant attic and crawlspace vents, dual-pane glass with at least one tempered pane, ignition-resistant exterior walls, and enclosed eaves. The SLO County Fire Department reviews building plans for WUI compliance. Owners can look up their zone designation using the CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer.
Building without required WUI features is a building code violation subject to stop-work orders, mandatory correction, and administrative penalties. Insurance carriers may also decline coverage on non-compliant homes.
San Luis Obispo County, CA
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San Luis Obispo County, CA
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San Luis Obispo County, CA
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San Luis Obispo County, CA
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San Luis Obispo County, CA
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San Luis Obispo County, CA
SLO County Code Section 22.56.030 (Tree Preservation) requires permits to remove native trees on most parcels, with special protections for native oaks. Camb...
See how San Luis Obispo County's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
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