Much of east Alameda County including the Oakland Hills, Castro Valley, and Sunol foothills is designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone by CAL FIRE, triggering strict defensible space rules.
CAL FIRE has mapped significant portions of unincorporated Alameda County as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) in both State Responsibility Areas (SRA) and Local Responsibility Areas (LRA). The designation follows the devastating 1991 Oakland Hills Firestorm that killed 25 people and destroyed over 3,000 structures, and the 2017 Fountain Fire context. Properties in VHFHSZ are subject to PRC Section 4291 defensible space requirements, Chapter 7A ignition-resistant building standards for new construction and additions, and CA Civil Code 1103 natural hazard disclosure at point of sale. The Alameda County Fire Department and CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit enforce defensible space inspections. Homeowners must maintain 100 feet of defensible space, use ember-resistant vents, Class A roofing, and address specific zone hardening under the Home Hardening program. Insurance availability and rates are significantly affected by VHFHSZ status.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Castro Valley, CA
Alameda County Code §6.60.050 prohibits repairing, rebuilding, modifying or testing vehicles in residential areas between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. if it produces so...
Castro Valley, CA
Alameda County Code §6.60.050 limits use of electric or gas leaf blowers, sweepers, vacuums, mowers, trimmers, edgers and hedgers in residential areas to 7 a...
Castro Valley, CA
Alameda County Code §5.08.060 makes it unlawful for any person owning, keeping, or having custody of a dog or other animal to knowingly permit or suffer that...
Castro Valley, CA
Alameda County Code §6.60.080 exempts construction activity from Chapter 6.60 only if it occurs between 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturd...
Castro Valley, CA
Castro Valley is unincorporated and operates under Alameda County Code Chapter 6.60 (Noise). §6.60.050 makes it a violation to operate any sound-producing de...
Castro Valley, CA
Heavy commercial vehicles - generally over 10,000 lbs GVW or 22 feet long - cannot be parked overnight on Castro Valley residential streets, and cannot be pa...
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