There’s a brand-new 2025 CalFire Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) map released April 25—and it’s not just a refresh. For property owners in Los Angeles and across Southern California, this update brings significant changes from previous maps, with real-world impacts on disclosures, maintenance, building requirements, and insurance.
If you’re in real estate—or you own property near canyons, brush, hillsides, or rural edges—you need to see what changed. You can compare the old (2007-2011) with new (2025) recommended Fire Hazard Severity Zones on the CalFire website. There’s 168% increase since the last maps were released. Many areas like Woodland Hills South of the Blvd, and West Hills near the Chatworth Reservoir that weren’t shown in previous maps are now well in the Very High zones.
Here’s the breakdown in plain terms.
What Changed in the 2025 Fire Hazard Map?
CalFire’s last major FHSZ update was in 2007, and a lot has changed since then—climate, fire behavior, development patterns, and risk modeling. The 2025 version:
- Expands many “Very High” zones, especially into more urban-adjacent and suburban areas
- Adds areas that were previously “Moderate” or unclassified
- Reassesses wildfire risk using new data—including wind patterns, ember travel, slope, and vegetation fuel loads
In L.A. County, this means neighborhoods in the Valley, Santa Monica Mountains, foothills of Altadena, Topanga, Malibu, and parts of Calabasas and Glendale are now flagged with higher severity ratings than before.
These aren’t just theoretical risk zones—they trigger legal and financial requirements for anyone owning or transacting in those areas.
Selling a Property? Disclosures Just Got More Serious. If a property is in a Very High fire hazard zone on the new 2025 map, sellers must legally disclose this as part of the Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHD) report. Disclosures must reflect the new map—not the outdated one.
Defensible Space Rules Still Apply—and May Be Enforced More Strictly
Properties in these newly expanded zones now fall under Public Resources Code 4291, which requires:
- 100 feet of defensible space around structures
- Annual brush clearance
- Tree trimming and spacing
- Removal of combustible materials near buildings
In some counties (including L.A.), compliance is required before a sale can close, and enforcement is getting tighter. Some agencies even conduct aerial inspections.
If your property wasn’t previously in a Very High zone but now is—you might not know you’re on the hook. The new map makes it official. CalFire Defensible Space
Building Codes Are Tied to This Too
If you’re planning new construction or major renovations in a Very High zone, California’s Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) code—Chapter 7A—applies. That means:
- Fire-rated roofs and siding
- Ember-resistant venting and screening
- Non-combustible decks and fences
Before the 2025 update, many builders assumed they were in the clear. Now, those same parcels fall into regulated areas—especially in parts of the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita, and the Inland Empire.
Insurance Is Already Responding to the 2025 Zones
Insurance companies use their own maps and algorithms to evaluate a property’s risk factors, but insurers are watching this map—hard. If your property has been newly zoned “High” or “Very High”:
- Your premiums may go up
- Your policy may not be renewed
- You may be asked to complete fire mitigation work
Some major carriers are using satellite imagery to check for defensible space. And if you get dropped, your only option may be the California FAIR Plan, which is limited coverage with higher premiums.
If your home wasn’t flagged before, and now it is, expect your insurer to notice—and act on it.
This 2025 CalFire map isn’t a tweak—it’s a recalibration of how wildfire risk is evaluated. If you’re in L.A. or Southern California, it’s likely this new version either upgraded your risk level or confirmed a need for action.
Whether you’re selling, building, insuring, or just maintaining your property, use this map as your starting point.
If you are in the Los Angeles area, and have any questions or real estate sales or financing needs, feel free to contact me
Ron Henderson GRI, SRES, SFR, RECS, CIAS, CREN, GREEN
President/Broker
Multi Real Estate Services, Inc.
Gov’t Affairs Chair – Southland Regional Association of Realtors (2025)
Gov’t Affairs Chair – California Association of Mortgage Professionals (2017-2018)
Chairman – OutWest Marketing Meeting (Real Estate Education)
BRE #00905793 NMLS #310358
www.mres.com
ronh@mres.com
Specialist in the Art of Real Estate Sales and Finance
Real Estate market, mortgage rates, Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Conejo Valley, Simi Valley, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Calabasas, Chatsworth
Leave a Reply