About 80% of Monterey County is rated high, very high, or extreme fire threat. CAL FIRE maps Fire Hazard Severity Zones (moderate, high, very high) across the State and Local Responsibility Areas. Very high zones trigger 100-foot defensible space, Wildland-Urban Interface building codes, and seller disclosure.
Wildfire risk in unincorporated Monterey County is mapped by CAL FIRE as Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) classified moderate, high, or very high, based on fuel, slope, fire weather, and ember exposure. Roughly 80% of the county's land is categorized as high, very high, or extreme fire threat — the mountainous, highly combustible terrain in and around Los Padres National Forest and the Santa Lucia Mountains is especially susceptible. Big Sur coast communities including Big Sur, Post, Lucia, Gorda, and Plaskett are at great risk, as shown by the 2016 Soberanes Fire (about 132,000 acres, 57 homes destroyed) and the 2020 Dolan Fire (about 124,924 acres). Most of the county lies in the State Responsibility Area (SRA), where CAL FIRE handles wildland protection; mapped very high zones also exist in Local Responsibility Areas (LRA). In very high fire hazard severity zones, owners must maintain 100 feet of defensible space (PRC 4291), new construction and major renovations must meet Wildland-Urban Interface building standards (California Building Code Chapter 7A / fire-resistant construction), and sellers must disclose the FHSZ designation in real estate transactions. The 2025 FHSZ map updates were released to local agencies (received March 10, 2025), with the fire district required to adopt LRA updates within 120 days under AB 211. Property owners can confirm their zone on the state OSFM FHSZ viewer or the county's GIS portal.
Failing to meet defensible space, WUI building standards, or disclosure obligations in a very high fire hazard severity zone can lead to citations, blocked permits, blocked property sales, and liability. CAL FIRE, the county fire districts, and county building/planning enforce these requirements.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Monterey, CA
Persistent dog barking in the City of Monterey is enforced under the noise ordinance and animal provisions as a disturbance; chronic barking that disturbs ne...
Monterey, CA
Construction noise in the City of Monterey is limited to daytime hours under the noise ordinance — typically 7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays with reduced weekend hour...
Monterey, CA
The City of Monterey regulates noise through its municipal code, prohibiting loud and disturbing noise with stricter nighttime limits (generally 10 p.m.–7 a....
Monterey, CA
Driveway approaches in the City of Monterey require an encroachment permit and must meet city standards; vehicles generally must be parked on an approved pav...
Monterey, CA
RV, trailer and boat storage on residential lots in the City of Monterey is regulated by zoning, which restricts placement and prohibits living in a parked RV.
Monterey, CA
On-street parking in the City of Monterey is governed by the vehicle code, with extensive metered and time-limited zones downtown and near the wharf, plus 72...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Monterey County.
See how Monterey's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
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