San Francisco has minimal designated State Responsibility Area wildfire hazard zones due to its dense urban character. Cal Fire Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps show only small areas near Mt. Davidson, Twin Peaks, and the Presidio edges as moderate/high wildfire risk. Defensible-space rules apply in those few zones.
Unlike wildland-urban-interface counties, San Francisco is almost entirely built-out urban and is not a State Responsibility Area. The 2024 Cal Fire Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps designate only limited hillside and open-space areas as 'Moderate' or 'High' hazard, including parts of Mt. Davidson, Twin Peaks, Glen Canyon, Bayview Hill, and the Presidio/Golden Gate National Recreation Area edges. Properties within a designated zone must comply with Public Resources Code 4291 defensible space: a 100-foot buffer with Zone 0 (0-5 ft ember-resistant), Zone 1 (5-30 ft lean/clean/green), Zone 2 (30-100 ft reduced fuel). New construction in Wildland-Urban Interface zones must meet California Building Code Chapter 7A ignition-resistant standards (Class A roofing, ember-resistant vents, dual-pane windows). SF Fire Department inspects on complaint and coordinates with the Presidio Trust and Rec and Parks. For the overwhelming majority of SF parcels, these rules do not apply and conventional urban fire code governs.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact San Francisco code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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See how San Francisco's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
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