Nevada County, CA Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)

Unincorporated Nevada County lies in the Sierra Nevada foothills and forests, where wildfire risk is extreme (the 2021 River Fire is a recent example). The State Fire Marshal classifies lands into Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones under Government Code 51178, based on statewide criteria, and large portions of unincorporated Nevada County are mapped as High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Most unincorporated wildland in the county is in CAL FIRE's State Responsibility Area (SRA), where the state is responsible for wildfire protection; the cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City and the Town of Truckee are Local Responsibility Areas. Being in these zones carries real obligations: PRC 4291 requires up to 100 feet of defensible space around structures; the county's Hazardous Vegetation and Combustible Material Abatement Ordinance (Code Article 7, Sec. G-IV 7.1 et seq.) supplements that, including roadway clearance; and new buildings and certain remodels in high-hazard zones must meet California Building Code Chapter 7A wildland-urban-interface material standards (ember-resistant vents, ignition-resistant siding and roofing). Property owners can look up their specific zone and responsibility area on CAL FIRE / Office of the State Fire Marshal maps and the county's Fire Hazard Severity Zone page. These designations also affect disclosure obligations when selling property and may affect insurance.