Sonoma City Council will hold a public hearing to consider adopting the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map at their upcoming regular meeting on April 21st at 6:00 p.m. The Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) map, which follows guidelines provided by CalFire, designates areas as Moderate, High, or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and is an essential step in ensuring the community’s preparedness for wildfire risks. View the draft map of the City of Sonoma [here].
Key Updates:
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The Fire Hazard Severity Zones map, which was shared publicly earlier this year, includes important changes, particularly for parcels that previously had multiple zone designations. Now, parcels will be identified under the highest severity zone to simplify the administrative process.
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The adoption of this map introduces new development requirements in higher-risk areas, including stricter building codes and defensible space landscape regulations, especially for those in Very High Severity Zones.
What’s Important:
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The proposed map will impact future development and property requirements in designated zones. The FHSZ map is critical in helping to reduce wildfire risk through building standards, defensible space, and real estate disclosures.
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The City’s decision to adopt this ordinance is a vital step in aligning with state-level recommendations and will not only enhance safety but also guide how future developments are built to withstand fire risks.
Public Hearing Details:
The meeting will take place on Monday, April 21st at 6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 177 First St. West, and will be broadcast on Channel 27 and available for live streaming on the City’s CivicWeb portal. View the meeting agenda detailing the items to be discussed on our CivicWeb portal.
For further information on the FHSZ map and the public hearing, please visit City of Sonoma FHSZ Page.