Modesto, CA Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)

Wildfire risk in Stanislaus County is concentrated in the eastern foothills, which fall within the CAL FIRE State Responsibility Area (SRA), while the broad Central Valley agricultural floor in the west and center of the county is lower hazard. CAL FIRE's Office of the State Fire Marshal classifies wildland in the SRA as Moderate, High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ), based on factors such as fuel loading, slope, fire weather and wind. The 2022 SRA Fire Hazard Severity Zone map for Stanislaus County shows these designations across the foothill areas. Parcels mapped in High or Very High zones face additional obligations: 100 feet of defensible space under Public Resources Code 4291, wildfire-resistant construction standards under the California Building/Residential Code (Chapter 7A) for new buildings, and natural-hazard disclosure when property is sold. Local fire protection in the unincorporated county comes from Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District and other local districts plus CAL FIRE in the SRA. Property owners can confirm their parcel's classification using CAL FIRE/OSFM's published Stanislaus County maps and the statewide FHSZ viewer. Because the maps were updated in 2022, owners who relied on older designations should re-check whether their parcel's zone has changed.