Large portions of unincorporated Monterey County - including the Big Sur coast, Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley, Cachagua, Arroyo Seco, and the Santa Lucia Range - are mapped as State Responsibility Area (SRA) and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. New construction must meet Cal. Building Code Chapter 7A (wildfire-resistant materials) and MCC Chapter 18.56 defensible space rules. Disclosure under Cal. Government Code section 51183.5 is required on sale.
CAL FIRE Director adopts Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps under Cal. Public Resources Code section 4202 (State Responsibility Areas) and Cal. Government Code section 51178 (Local Responsibility Areas). Monterey County implements those maps through MCC Chapter 18.56 and Chapter 18.09 (California Fire Code). Properties in SRA are served by CAL FIRE BEU and the Monterey County Regional Fire District. New buildings and substantial remodels in SRA or VHFHSZ must comply with Cal. Building Code Chapter 7A: ignition-resistant exterior siding, ember-resistant vents, Class A roofing, tempered or multi-pane windows, and protected eaves and decks. Sellers must disclose FHSZ status on the Natural Hazards Disclosure Statement under Cal. Gov. Code section 51183.5 and Civ. Code 1103. Re-mapping under AB 642 (2022) expanded VHFHSZ designations in 2024-2025; coastal Big Sur and Carmel Highlands properties are largely within VHFHSZ.
Building Code Chapter 7A violations are misdemeanors or infractions under MCC general penalty provisions and may result in stop-work orders, denial of certificate of occupancy, and required abatement. Failure to disclose FHSZ status on sale exposes sellers to civil liability under Civ. Code section 1103.2.
Monterey County, CA
Excessive barking is a nuisance under Monterey County Code Title 8 (Animal Control) and Chapter 10.60 (Noise Control). Persistent barking, howling, or other ...
Monterey County, CA
Monterey County Code Chapter 10.60 (Noise Control) governs unincorporated areas including Big Sur, Pebble Beach, Carmel Valley, and Pajaro. MCC 10.60.040 set...
Monterey County, CA
Monterey County Code Chapter 12.72 regulates abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles - including RVs, trailers, and boats - on public streets...
Monterey, CA
Monterey City Code Chapter 20 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) regulates parking. Vehicles may not be parked on any city street for more than 72 consecutive hour...
Monterey County, CA
In unincorporated Monterey County (Title 21 inland, Title 20 coastal), fences may not exceed 6 feet in any zoning district unless they meet accessory-structu...
Monterey County, CA
Monterey County Code Title 8 (Animal Control) and Title 21/20 zoning regulate the keeping of chickens, fowl, and livestock in unincorporated areas. Roosters ...
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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