Tustin, CA Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)

Although Tustin is mostly flat, built-out urban territory, it is not entirely outside wildfire hazard. According to the City of Tustin, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and the Office of the State Fire Marshal released the 2025 Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for Southern California on March 24, 2025, and the City of Tustin's map designates portions of the city as being within Very High, High, and Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones. These elevated-hazard areas correspond to the city's eastern and foothill edge near the Tustin hills/Lemon Heights terrain rather than the central flatlands. The City explains that "hazard" reflects the physical conditions and expected fire behavior over a 30-to-50-year period without crediting mitigation, and is distinct from "risk," which accounts for measures such as fuel reduction, defensible space, and ignition-resistant construction. Properties in certain FHSZs must meet more stringent building-construction standards (ignition-resistant/WUI construction) and vegetation-maintenance requirements. State law also imposes disclosure duties: under California Civil Code Section 1102.19, sellers of property in High or Very High FHSZs must give buyers a defensible-space disclosure showing compliance with applicable vegetation-management requirements. The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), Tustin's fire agency, enforces defensible-space and vegetation standards. Residents can confirm a specific parcel's designation using CAL FIRE's interactive FHSZ viewer or by contacting the City Building Division (714-573-3130) or OCFA (714-573-6000).