Sacramento County contains Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the eastern foothills and portions of the Delta. Properties in VHFHSZ face stricter defensible space, building ignition-resistant construction, and insurance disclosure requirements.
Cal Fire maps Fire Hazard Severity Zones under PRC 4201-4204 and Government Code 51175-51189. In unincorporated Sacramento County, VHFHSZ parcels cluster near the Folsom Lake area, Rancho Murieta, and WUI-adjacent communities in the eastern county. Properties in VHFHSZ must comply with PRC 4291 defensible space, Chapter 7A of the California Building Code for ignition-resistant exteriors (Class A roof, ember-resistant vents, dual-pane windows) on new or substantially remodeled homes, and Natural Hazard Disclosure at sale under Civil Code 1103. Home hardening inspections and Zone 0 ember-resistant zones became effective statewide pursuant to AB 3074.
Noncompliance with defensible space results in county abatement and liens. Insurers increasingly non-renew policies on non-hardened VHFHSZ homes. Failure to disclose FHSZ status at sale can create seller liability.
Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks is unincorporated Sacramento County, so RV and boat parking is regulated by the County Code (Title 10 Vehicles & Traffic) and the Fair Oaks Village...
Sacramento County, CA
Unincorporated Sacramento County does not generally prohibit overnight street parking in residential areas. The CVC 22651(k) 72-hour rule applies. Some comme...
Sacramento County, CA
California Civil Code 841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act) presumes equal cost-sharing for boundary fences. 30-day written notice is required before building or rep...
Sacramento County, CA
Fences 7 feet and under in unincorporated Sacramento County do not require a building permit, but a zoning clearance is required for front-yard fences over 3...
Sacramento County, CA
Sacramento County allows backyard chickens in most residential zones: up to 6 hens on lots under 10,000 sq ft, no roosters in RD zones. Coops must be set bac...
Sacramento County, CA
Sacramento County Code 9.60 prohibits feeding wild mammals including deer, raccoons, coyotes, and wild turkeys. Bird feeders are allowed if they do not attra...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Sacramento County.
See how other cities in Sacramento County handle wildfire zones.
See how Fair Oaks's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.