Chula Vista Municipal Code Ch. 15.34 Fire Hazard Severity Zones, Vegetation Management Area, and Wildfire…

FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES, VEGETATION MANAGEMENT AREA, AND WILDFIRE RESILIENCE MEASURES

Sections:

15.34.005 Adoption: Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

15.34.010 Special Designated Vegetation Management Area. 15.34.015 Wildfire Resilience Measures. 15.34.020 Determinations.

The City Council of the City of Chula Vista hereby designates medium, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones as identified by the California Office of the State Fire Marshal and as designated on the map titled “City of Chula Vista (San Diego County), Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones,” dated March 24, 2025. (Ord. 3598 § 2, 2025).

The City Council of the City of Chula Vista hereby designates a local special designated vegetation management area, as identified on the map titled “City of Chula Vista Special Designated Vegetation Management Area,” dated March 26, 2025. (Ord. 3598 § 2, 2025).

In addition to the construction requirements applicable to the Very High and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, as designated by the California Office of the State Fire Marshal, the City of Chula Vista hereby requires that the same building materials and construction methods intended to reduce the risk of ignition and fire spread shall also apply to all new construction located within the Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zone, as designated by the California Office of the State Fire Marshal, and within the City of Chula Vista Special Designated Vegetation Management Area. These specific construction requirements are set forth in the currently adopted California Building Standards Code (Title 24), including, but not limited to, the California Building Code (Part 2), Chapter 7A (Materials and Construction Methods for Exterior Wildfire Exposure), and any future applicable provisions contained in the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (Part 7), as adopted and amended by the State of California. (Ord. 3598 § 2, 2025).

A. Highest Zone Prevails. In instances where a single parcel of land includes multiple fire hazard severity zone designations, including moderate, high, very high, or a local special designated vegetation management area, the entire parcel shall be considered as falling within the highest designated zone or area present on any portion of the parcel.

B. Mapping Determination. The fire hazard severity zone maps and special designated vegetation management area, as adopted or referenced by the City of Chula Vista, shall be used to determine zone boundaries and classifications. Parcel-level determinations shall be made by overlaying the adopted fire hazard severity zone map and special designated vegetation management area onto parcel boundaries.

C. Application of Standards. All development standards, building code requirements, defensible space regulations, or other obligations tied to the fire hazard severity zone or special designated vegetation management area classification shall be applied to the entire parcel based upon the highest severity zone present. (Ord. 3598 § 2, 2025).