WUI Maps / Fire Hazard Severity Zones

The Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), pronounced ‘woo-ee’, is the geographical area where structures and other human development meets or intermingles with wildland and vegetative fuels.   Properties located within the WUI are typically at increased risk from wildfires.  

Town of San Anselmo, Town of Fairfax, Sleepy Hollow

The Towns of San Anselmo, Fairfax, and Ross, and unincorporated Sleepy Hollow, have adopted the 2010 California Fire Code and the 2006 International Wildland Urban Interface Code with amendments.  To determine whether your home is in the WUI please review the Ross Valley maps below:

WUI: Incorporated Ross Valley2.07 MB

WUI: San Anselmo855.59 KB

WUI: Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District939.90 KB

WUI: Fairfax517.44 KB

Town of Ross

The Town of Ross adopted a hillside ordinance code (18.39 Hillside Lot Regulations) instead of the WUI code. For specific definitions and requirements, please visit the Ross Planning website or call at (415) 453-1453 ext. 121.

Fire Hazard Severity Zones

The Ross Valley Fire Department in partnership with the Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District and the Towns of Fairfax, San Anselmo and Ross encourages all residents within Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) of Fairfax, Ross and San Anselmo to review and submit public comment on the proposed Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is required to classify lands within State Responsibility Areas (SRA) into Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) of Moderate, High, and Very High fire hazard severity based on consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. In April 2024, the FHSZ map for the state of California was adopted for the SRA.

After the devastating Oakland Hills fire of 1991, Assembly Bill 337 was passed and calls for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to evaluate fire hazard severity in the LRA as well. Both the OSFM and CAL FIRE have now classified, evaluated, and recommended FHSZ in the LRA and released updated maps on February 24, 2025.

The public is now invited to submit comments to their own jurisdictions. The maps can be viewed below and may also be viewed in person at all local planning departments.  

Questions about the LRA maps can be directed to Ross Valley Fire Department: 777 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo. Email comments that are applicable to the Ross Valley Fire jurisdictional boundaries to prevention@rossvalleyfire.org or call Robert Bastianon, Senior Fire Inspector at (415) 258-4673.

 CalFire Fire Hazard Severity Zones