Chapter 15.65
WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AREA
Sections:
15.65.030 Adoption of CAL FIRE recommended fire hazard severity zones.
15.65.040 City designation of very high fire hazard severity zones.
15.65.050 Authority to impose more restrictive fire and public safety requirements.
15.65.010 Title.
This chapter shall be known as the “wildland-urban interface fire area ordinance.” (Ord. 10-2025 § 1, 7-15-25.)
15.65.020 Purpose.
This chapter is intended to comply with the requirements of Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 51175 through 51189, and Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 4291(a), which require the city to adopt, by ordinance, the fire hazard severity zones designated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), which consist of very high, high, and moderate designations, subject to the city’s authority to designate areas as very high fire hazard zones not otherwise designated by CAL FIRE. By adopting this chapter, the city exercises its authority pursuant to Cal. Gov’t Code § 51179 to reclassify areas as necessary to enable city officials to identify and implement wildfire prevention measures that slow the spread, reduce the intensity of uncontrolled fires, and protect resources, lives, and properties. (Ord. 10-2025 § 1, 7-15-25.)
15.65.030 Adoption of CAL FIRE recommended fire hazard severity zones.
The city hereby designates the fire hazard severity zones as recommended by CAL FIRE in 2025 pursuant to Cal. Gov’t Code § 51178, as amended by this chapter. (Ord. 10-2025 § 1, 7-15-25.)
15.65.040 City designation of very high fire hazard severity zones.
(a) The city hereby designates additional areas beyond those identified by the State Fire Marshal, as very high fire hazard severity zones based on a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Cal. Gov’t Code § 51182 are necessary for effective fire protection within the city-designated areas. These areas were previously approved by the city council as very high fire hazard severity zones on December 4, 2007 (Ordinance 33-2007).
(b) The designation, locations, and boundaries of the fire hazard severity zones in the city, as recommended by the State Fire Marshal and as amended by the city, are set forth on the map labeled “City of Fremont, Local Responsibility Area, Fire Hazard Severity Zones” dated June 26, 2025. Said map is hereby approved by the city council and attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter as Exhibit A and incorporated herein.
(c) An official copy of the fire hazard severity zones map must be kept on file with the city clerk’s office, posted online on the fire department’s website, and shall be made available to the public at the administrative offices of the fire department during regular business hours. (Ord. 10-2025 § 1, 7-15-25.)
15.65.050 Authority to impose more restrictive fire and public safety requirements.
Pursuant to Cal. Gov’t Code § 51175, neither the adoption of this chapter nor the city’s designation of areas as very high fire hazard severity zones shall limit or restrict the authority of the city to impose more restrictive fire and public safety requirements, including any such restrictions currently in existence and any that may be adopted in the future, as otherwise authorized by law. (Ord. 10-2025 § 1, 7-15-25.)