Oakland, CA Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- OMC § 15.04.1.180(O)
- Zone defined by
- Fire Marshal of the City of Oakland
- General area
- Oakland Hills north/east of mapped boundary
- Address numbering
- Minimum 6 inches high, 0.5-inch stroke
- WUI code cross-reference
- OMC § 15.04.3.7000 et seq.
Summary
Oakland's Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone covers the Oakland Hills east of a Fire Marshal-mapped boundary running from the San Leandro line north to Berkeley, and buildings inside it face extra construction rules, including minimum 6-inch address numbers and compliance with the state Wildland-Urban Interface Code, under Municipal Code § 15.04.1.180(O).
Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. All of that area within the City as defined by the Fire Marshal of the City of Oakland, including, but not limited to, the area north and east of the following boundaries: BEGINNING at the MacArthur Freeway at the San Leandro border to Foothill Boulevard; west on Foothill Boulevard to Stanley; west on Stanley to 98th Avenue; south on 98th Avenue to Steams Avenue; west on Steams to Burr Street; west on Burr Street to Thermal... west on Margarido Drive to Lawton; west on Lawton to Broadway; north on Broadway to Keith Avenue; west on Keith Avenue to College Avenue; and north on College Avenue to the corporate limits of the City of Berkeley.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102 | Planning Code: Supplement 59).
Full Breakdown
180(O), part of the Building Official's administrative definitions for the 2025 Oakland Building Construction Code, defines the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone as all area within the City the Fire Marshal designates, including but not limited to the area north and east of a street-by-street boundary that begins at the MacArthur Freeway and the San Leandro border, runs west along Foothill Boulevard, Stanley, 98th Avenue, Steams Avenue, and Burr Street, threads through the Dimond District along MacArthur Boulevard, Seminary Avenue, and Fruitvale Avenue past Dimond Park, continues through the Piedmont border and Mountain View Cemetery, and finishes along Broadway Terrace, Broadway, and College Avenue to the Berkeley city line.
The zone roughly corresponds to the Oakland Hills firebelt. 5 inch, larger than the citywide standard, so fire crews can find a structure quickly. The Building Official, the Deputy Director of the Planning and Building Department, administers the zone designation and the WUI Code amendments together.
Violations & Fines
Construction that fails to meet the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone's Wildland-Urban Interface Code amendments or the six-inch address-numbering requirement is a Building Code violation enforceable the same as any other unpermitted or noncompliant work under § 15.04.1.130: the Building Official can withhold approval, and a violator is liable for abatement costs, fees, and attorneys' fees recoverable through nuisance-abatement liens or civil action.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my Oakland property is in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone?
What extra construction rules apply inside the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone?
Who created Oakland's Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone boundary?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oakland
California rules heatmap·Compare Oakland to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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Wildfire Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle wildfire zones.