HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-07-08 - AGENDA REPORTS - ORD FIRE HAZARD ZONE MAPO
Agenda Item: 6
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: Li
'
DATE: July 8, 2025
SUBJECT: SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE FIRE HAZARD
SEVERITY ZONE MAP OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AND
ISSUED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY
AND FIRE PROTECTION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 51179
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
PRESENTER: Masis Hagobian
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council waive reading of the text and consent to read by title only, as listed on the agenda,
and adopt an ordinance entitled: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE
MAP OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AND ISSUED BY THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION PURSUANT TO
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51179."
BACKGROUND
On June 24, 2025, the City Council introduced and passed to a second reading an ordinance
adopting the Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps, which were published by the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) on March 25, 2025. Pursuant to California
Government Code Section 51179, local agencies are required to adopt an ordinance within 120
days from when the FHSZ maps are published, designating the fire zones within its jurisdiction.
Additionally, California Government Code Section 51179 preempts cities, counties, and the
public from appealing areas identified in the fire zones or reducing the level of the fire zones
published by Cal Fire. The Very -High Fire Zone within the City of Santa Clarita (City) was
previously 28,979 acres. This figure accounts for annexations since 2011, which converted
FHSZ areas from a State Responsibility Area or unincorporated areas of the County into Local
Responsibility Areas within the City's jurisdictional boundaries. As part of the 2025 FHSZ map
update, Cal Fire increased the Very -High Fire Zone in the City by 4,299 acres for a new total of
33,278 acres, representing an approximately 15 percent increase. Cal Fire also added 1,991 acres
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in the Moderate Fire Zone and 2,929 acres in the High -Fire Zone within the City. Total acreage
of the FHSZ in the City as a result of the 2025 update, accounting for all three zones, is 38,198
acres.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact as a result of this item.
ATTACHMENTS
FHSZ Map Ordinance 2025
Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map
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ORDINANCE NO. 25-
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE
MAP OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AND ISSUED BY THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION PURSUANT TO
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51179
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 51178 mandates that the State Fire
Marshal identify Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones based on
consistent statewide criteria and the expected severity of fire hazards; and
WHEREAS, on March 24, 2025, the California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection published its Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for the Local Responsibility Areas of
Los Angeles County; and
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 51179 requires local agencies to adopt
an ordinance within 120 days from when the Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps are published,
designating the fire zones within its jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 51179 prohibits cities, counties, and
the public from appealing areas identified in the fire zones or reducing the level of the fire zones
published by Cal Fire.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA,
CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Santa Clarita City Council designate the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as
established by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government
Code Section 51178;
SECTION 2. The map, as distributed by the State and approved by the City Council, is
hereby incorporated by reference and entitled, "City of Santa Clarita Fire Hazard Severity
Zones"; and
SECTION 3. The City of Santa Clarita Fire Hazard Severity Zones map is available
electronically on the City's website.
SECTION 4. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days from its
passage and adoption.
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SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this ordinance and shall cause
the same to be published as required by law.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this day of , 2025.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
DATE:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
I, Mary Cusick, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Ordinance No. 25- was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a
regular meeting of the City Council on the day of 2025. That thereafter, said
ordinance was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the
day of 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the foregoing is the original of Ordinance No. 25-
and was published in The Signal newspaper in accordance with State Law (G.C. 40806).
CITY CLERK
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Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility
Area (LRA), as Identified by the State Fire Marshal
= Very High High Moderate
Fire Hazard Severity Zones in State Responsibility Area
(SRA), Effective April 1, 2024
Very High High Moderate
6
Mi 0 1 2 3 4
Km 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Projection'. 1A1383 California Teal. Albers
Scala1.95 000 at 11" x 17"
;Incorporated City E3 Waterbody
Unzoned LRA Federal Responsibility
Area (FRA)
Government Code section 51178 requires the State Fire statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is and other relevant factors including areas where winds
Marshal to identity areas in the state as moderate, high, expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire have been identified by the office of the State Fire Marshal
and very high fire hazard severity zones based an consistent hazard severity zones shall be based an fuel loading, slope, fire weather, as a major cause of wildfire spread.
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