Wildland Urban Interface 

The Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) is the area where homes, businesses, and other development meet or are intermixed with natural vegetation such as forests, grasslands, shrublands, and open space. The Wildland Urban Interface is established and adopted by local government. 

To reduce wildfire risk, buildings and properties located within designated WUI areas are often subject to enhanced building, landscaping, and vegetation management requirements. These requirements are established through the California Building Code, California Fire Code, and Tiburon Fire Ordinance and Standards to improve a structure's ability to withstand wildfire exposure.

Understanding whether a property is located within the Wildland-Urban Interface is an important step in planning new construction, renovations, and ongoing property maintenance.

Please download and reference the map below to identify if you're in the Wildland Urban Interface. 

WUI Map.pdf

 

Fire Hazard Severity Zones 

A Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) is a geographic area designated by the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, based on recommendations and scientific analysis developed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). These zones identify areas that have varying levels of wildfire hazard due to factors such as vegetation, terrain, fire history, weather patterns, and expected fire behavior.

Fire Hazard Severity Zones are classified into three categories:

• Moderate
• High
• Very High

Similar to properties in the Wildland Urban Interface, properties located within designated Fire Hazard Severity Zones are required to meet requirements for construction materials, defensible space, vegetation management regulations, and other wildfire mitigation measures established by state and local codes. These requirements are established through the California Building Code, California Fire Code, and Tiburon Fire Ordinance and Standards.

To know your fire hazard severity zone, please visit the link below and use the search tool to find your address: 

Find your FHSZ