Ventura County designates fire hazard severity zones throughout unincorporated areas pursuant to California Government Code Section 51175-51189 and PRC 4201-4204. Properties in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones face additional building, landscaping, and vegetation management requirements.
CAL FIRE and the Ventura County Fire Protection District map fire hazard severity zones across unincorporated areas into three classifications: Moderate, High, and Very High. Large portions of unincorporated Ventura County, including communities in the Santa Monica Mountains, Ojai Valley, upper Ventura River area, and hillside areas along the 118 and 126 corridors, fall within Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Properties in these zones must comply with enhanced building standards under Chapter 7A of the California Building Code, including ignition-resistant roofing, exterior walls, vents, and decking. New construction requires fire-resistant landscaping plans reviewed by the Fire Prevention Bureau. Real estate disclosures under NRS Section 1103 require sellers to notify buyers of fire hazard zone designations. The county's General Plan Safety Element incorporates wildfire risk mapping into land use planning decisions.
Building without fire-resistant materials in designated zones may result in stop-work orders and required retrofitting at the owner's expense. Failure to maintain vegetation per zone requirements carries fines of $100-$500 per day. Real estate disclosure violations may expose sellers to civil liability. New development applications may be denied or conditioned based on fire hazard zone status. Contact County Fire Prevention at (805) 389-9710 for zone verification.
Ventura County, CA
Ventura County establishes specific decibel limits for unincorporated areas under VCC Section 4604-8. Residential zones are limited to 55 dBA daytime and 45 ...
Ventura County, CA
Ventura County Ordinance Code §6299-1 prohibits loud or raucous noise in residential zones between 9 PM and 7 AM. The standard applies to sound audible at 50...
Ventura County, CA
Construction activity in unincorporated Ventura County is permitted Monday through Friday 7 AM to 7 PM and Saturday 8 AM to 5 PM. No construction is allowed ...
Ventura County, CA
Ventura County regulates driveway dimensions, setbacks, and vehicle parking on residential driveways in unincorporated areas through the Non-Coastal Zoning O...
Ventura County, CA
Ventura County follows California's CALGreen Code requirements for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new construction. AB 970 and updated Title 24 ...
Ventura County, CA
Overnight parking on public streets in unincorporated Ventura County is generally permitted unless restricted by posted signage or specific area regulations....
See how Ventura County's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.