CAL FIRE's Feb 24, 2025 LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps (adopted by San Leandro City Council mid-June 2025) designate hillside neighborhoods east of I-580 as Moderate and High FHSZ. The prior Very High zone was eliminated. Properties in mapped zones must follow California Building Code Chapter 7A (Wildland-Urban Interface) and PRC §4291 defensible space.
Per California Government Code §51178, the State Fire Marshal designates Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the Local Responsibility Area (LRA) - the area where local agencies are responsible for wildland fire protection. The 2025 CAL FIRE update (released Feb 24, 2025) replaced the 2009 maps. In San Leandro, the new maps added Moderate FHSZ and High FHSZ designations in the East Bay hills neighborhoods (above I-580 toward the Hayward/Castro Valley ridge) and eliminated the previous Very High FHSZ category within City limits. The City of San Leandro held a public comment period through May 26, 2025 and adopted the maps in mid-June 2025. Regulatory consequences of being in a mapped zone: (1) Defensible space - High FHSZ requires 100 ft per PRC §4291 / Gov Code §51182, enforced by Alameda County Fire. (2) WUI building standards - new construction and substantial renovations in High FHSZ must comply with California Building Code Chapter 7A (Materials and Construction Methods for Exterior Wildfire Exposure), which dictates ember-resistant vents, Class A roofs, ignition-resistant exterior walls, and tempered window glazing. (3) Real estate disclosure - sellers must disclose FHSZ status to buyers under Civil Code §1103.2 / Gov Code §51183.5 (Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement). (4) Insurance - California's FAIR Plan and Insurance Code §10094 changes (2024-2025) tie wildfire insurance availability to FHSZ designation and Safer from Wildfires hardening status. Note: San Leandro Creek (FEMA flood zone area) does not overlap with the wildfire FHSZ; flood and wildfire hazards are separate disclosures.
Defensible space violations under PRC §4291: $100 first violation, up to $500 subsequent; failure to abate after notice authorizes the local fire agency to abate and lien the property. WUI Chapter 7A non-compliance is a stop-work and certificate-of-occupancy issue enforced by San Leandro Building & Safety. Failure to provide a Natural Hazard Disclosure can void real estate transactions or expose sellers to civil liability under Civil Code §1102.13.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
San Leandro, CA
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San Leandro, CA
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San Leandro, CA
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San Leandro, CA
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San Leandro, CA
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San Leandro, CA
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