Del Norte County, CA Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)

CAL FIRE has primary wildfire protection responsibility across most of unincorporated Del Norte County (the State Responsibility Area), alongside the US Forest Service in the Six Rivers National Forest / Smith River National Recreation Area and local fire districts. Under California Government Code Sections 51178-51179 and Public Resources Code Sections 4201-4204, the State Fire Marshal and CAL FIRE classify land into Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) of Moderate, High, and Very High based on fuel, slope, and fire weather. Del Norte's geography splits the risk: the wet redwood coast around Crescent City sees frequent rain and fog and is lower hazard, while the inland Smith River canyon, Gasquet, Hiouchi, Low Divide, and the Siskiyou foothills are genuine fire country — the August 2023 Smith River Complex (sparked by lightning) burned roughly 95,000 acres. Consequences of being in a mapped hazard zone include: 100-foot defensible space under PRC 4291; for new buildings and major remodels in higher-hazard SRA/WUI areas, California Building Code Chapter 7A ignition-resistant construction (Class A roofing, ember-resistant vents, enclosed eaves); and natural-hazard disclosure to buyers under Civil Code Section 1103. The Del Norte Fire Safe Council coordinates fuel breaks, prescribed burning, and home-hardening grants countywide. Check your parcel on CAL FIRE's FHSZ map viewer.