San Bernardino, CA Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Zone map date
- City VHFHSZ map dated Oct 29, 2008
- Governing chapter
- Municipal Code Chapter 15.10
- Applicable code
- CBC Chapter 7A plus local additions
- Roof requirement
- Class A fire-retardant, non-wood only
- Retrofit trigger
- 60% element replacement or repair cost
Summary
San Bernardino designates Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones on a map dated October 29, 2008, kept at the City Clerk's office, and Municipal Code Chapter 15.10 layers extra building standards onto any property inside them or in the city's mapped foothill fire zones A, B or C. Owners there must meet California Building Code Chapter 7A plus city-specific fencing, roofing, window and insulation rules.
Very high fire hazard severity zones are designated in the city as recommended by the Director of the State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection within the city, as depicted on a map titled “City of San Bernardino Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones,” dated October 29, 2008, on file at the office of the City Clerk, 300 N. D Street, San Bernardino, California.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-2: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. MC-1666, passed 8-5-2026).
Full Breakdown
030, using boundaries mapped on the city's October 29, 2008 map on file with the City Clerk at 300 N. D Street. 060 extends the same standards to properties in foothill fire zones A, B or C as defined in the Development Code, whether or not the state map also covers them. 080 layers city-specific construction requirements on top of California Building Code Chapter 7A: fencing on affected parcels must be noncombustible or ignition-resistant material; vinyl window frames need welded corners with metal reinforcement, dual-paned glazing with at least one tempered pane, and AAMA/ANSI certification; roof-mounted turbine vents are barred outright; every roof covering must carry at least a Class A fire-retardant rating in non-wood material; and paper-faced insulation cannot be used in attics or ventilated spaces.
040 forces existing buildings to retrofit to these standards once more than 60% of a structural element is replaced, or once repairs reach 60% or more of the structure's replacement cost as determined by the Building Official; additions are exempt only if they stay under 60% of the existing floor area and the original structure was never required to meet these standards.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 15.10 carries no separate penalty section of its own; building in a designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone or foothill fire zone without meeting the fencing, roofing, window, vent and insulation standards is caught through the Building Official's plan-check and inspection process under Section 15.10.080, and noncompliant construction is enforced as a Building Code violation through the standard permit process administered by the Community Development and Housing Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does San Bernardino define its wildfire hazard zones?
What extra building rules apply inside San Bernardino's wildfire zones?
Do older homes in San Bernardino's wildfire zones have to retrofit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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Wildfire Zones in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle wildfire zones.