Is My Home in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone? Nevada County Maps and Disclosure

By Mike Faulkenberry, REALTOR® · U.S. Air Force veteran · Nevada County native · Updated September 16, 2026

You can check any address on CAL FIRE’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone map viewers. CAL FIRE’s updated maps for State Responsibility Areas took effect April 1, 2024, and new maps for local (city and county) areas were released in 2025 for local adoption. When selling, the zone is disclosed to buyers on the Natural Hazard Disclosure statement.

What a Fire Hazard Severity Zone is

Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) are CAL FIRE’s classifications of wildfire hazard, rated moderate, high or very high. They describe hazard based on factors like vegetation, terrain and weather. They are used for building standards, defensible space rules and real estate disclosures.

State maps versus local maps

Map	Covers	Status
State Responsibility Area (SRA)	Unincorporated areas where the state is responsible for wildland fire protection, which includes much of western Nevada County	Updated maps effective April 1, 2024
Local Responsibility Area (LRA)	Areas where cities or counties are responsible, such as incorporated Grass Valley and Nevada City	Released in phases in early 2025; local agencies had 120 days to adopt them and could raise, but not lower, hazard levels

Nevada County received its local maps on February 10, 2025. The City of Grass Valley’s list of approved ordinances includes one designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones. For a specific property inside a city, confirm the adopted map with that city.

How to look up a property

Open CAL FIRE’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone map viewer (links for state and local maps are on the State Fire Marshal’s FHSZ page).
Search the address and note the zone and whether it’s a state or local area.
Nevada County also publishes a county map viewer on its Fire Hazard Severity Zones page.

What sellers must disclose

California’s Natural Hazard Disclosure statement asks whether the property is in a high or very high FHSZ in a state area, or a very high FHSZ in a local area. For very high zones in local areas, sellers must disclose if they know it or if the local agency has posted the map; if the map can’t tell, the seller marks “yes” unless a report shows otherwise. Most sellers use a third-party natural hazard report to complete this accurately.

Does the zone set my insurance rate?

According to the State Fire Marshal, the Department of Insurance says CAL FIRE’s hazard maps don’t determine insurance rates or availability. Insurers use their own wildfire risk models. Mitigation like defensible space and home hardening can still help with insurance under California’s Safer from Wildfires framework.

What the zone changes for owners and sellers

Defensible space documentation at sale in high and very high zones
A home hardening disclosure for homes built before 2010 in those zones
Wildfire-resistant building standards for new construction and many remodels

Frequently asked questions

How do I find out if my house is in a fire hazard zone in Nevada County?

Search the address on CAL FIRE’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone map viewers, linked from the State Fire Marshal’s FHSZ page, or on Nevada County’s map viewer.

When did CAL FIRE’s new fire hazard maps take effect?

Updated State Responsibility Area maps took effect April 1, 2024. Local Responsibility Area maps were released in early 2025 for cities and counties to adopt.

Do sellers have to disclose a Fire Hazard Severity Zone?

Yes. The Natural Hazard Disclosure statement covers high and very high zones in state areas and very high zones in local areas.

Does a fire hazard zone determine my homeowners insurance rate?

According to the State Fire Marshal, the Department of Insurance says the maps don’t set insurance rates or availability, but insurers use their own wildfire models.

Sources

Information current as of September 16, 2026. General information only, not legal, tax or lending advice.