The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2025-1519 Fire Hazard Severity ZonesORDINANCE NO. 2025-1519 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 51178 Whereas, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), pursuant to Government Code Section 51178, has developed updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for areas within Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs); and Whereas, Government Code Sections 51175 through 51189 require local jurisdictions to adopt the FHSZ maps by ordinance, and to enforce the building standards for new structures in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones as established in the California Building Code and California Fire Code; and Whereas, adoption of the FHSZ map will help the City reduce the risk of wildfire through updated planning and building standards and enable better protection of life, property, and natural resources; and Whereas, the City of Lake Elsinore desires to adopt the FHSZ map as recommended by CAL FIRE to comply with state law and to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the community. THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1: The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are hereby incorporated into these findings by this reference. Section 2: The City Council hereby finds and determines that the Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (Cal. Publ. Res. Code §§21000 et seq. “CEQA”) and the State CEQA Guidelines (14. Cal. Code Regs §§15000 et seq.), specifically pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2), 15060(c)(3), and 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, because there is no possibility that it may have a significant effect on the environment, and because it is not a “project” as that term is defined in Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines. Section 3: Designation of Fire Hazard Severity Zones The City of Lake Elsinore hereby adopts and designates the Fire Hazard Severity Zones within the City as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and presented in the map titled: “City of Lake Elsinore Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map,” as maintained and published by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. This map is incorporated herein as “Exhibit A” and shall serve as the official FHSZ designation within the City of Lake Elsinore's Local Responsibility Area. Docusign Envelope ID: E4289DBC-8E3B-403C-96D8-9710F409553A Ord. No. 2025-1519 Page 2 of 2 Section 4: Availability of the Map The official Fire Hazard Severity Zones map is available for public review: • In the Office of the City Clerk, City of Lake Elsinore, located at 130 South Main Street, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530; and • Electronically on the City’s official website at: https://www.lake-elsinore.org/ Section 5: Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or its application is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions, sections, or applications of the Ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end each phrase, section, sentence, or word is declared to be severable. Section 6: Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective at 12:01 a.m. on the thirty-first (31st) day after the date of adoption. Section 7: Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and shall cause a synopsis of the same to be published according to law. Passed, Approved, and Adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Lake Elsinore, California, on this 9th day of September 2025. Brian Tisdale Mayor Attest: Candice Alvarez, MMC City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss. CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE ) I, Candice Alvarez, MMC, City Clerk of the City of Lake Elsinore, California, do hereby certify that Ordinance No. 2024-1519 was introduced by the City Council of the City of Lake Elsinore, California, at its Regular meeting of August 26, 2025, and adopted at its Regular meeting of September 9, 2025, and that the same was adopted by the following vote: AYES: Council Members Sheridan and Manos; Mayor Pro Tem Magee; and Mayor Tisdale NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Candice Alvarez, MMC City Clerk Docusign Envelope ID: E4289DBC-8E3B-403C-96D8-9710F409553A City and County boundaries as of 10/22/24 (CA Board of Equalization) CAL FIRE State Responsibility Areas (SRA25_1) CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZSRA23_3, FHSZLRA_25_1) Data Sources: Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Joe Tyler, Director/Fire Chief, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources, CA Natural Resources Agency Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of CaliforniaThe State of California and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy of data or maps. Neither the State nor the Department shall be liable under any circumstances for any direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or third party on account of, or arising from, the use of data or maps. and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread. statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, Government Code section 51178 requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent Waterbody Federal Responsibility Area (FRA)Unzoned LRA Incorporated City Projection: NAD 83 California Teale Albers Scale: 1:80,000 at 11" x 17" 0 1 2 3 4 5 6Km 0 1 2 3 4Mi Very High High Moderate Very High High Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Area (LRA), as Identified by the State Fire Marshal Lake Elsinore 15 74 UNINCORPORATEDORANGE CO.UNINCORPORATED RIVERSIDE CO. CANYON LAKE MENIFEE PERRIS WILDOMARR I V E R S I D E C O . March 24, 2025 As Identified by the State Fire MarshalLocal Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE – RIVERSIDE COUNTY Fire Hazard Severity Zones in State Responsibility Area (SRA), Effective April 1, 2024 Docusign Envelope ID: E4289DBC-8E3B-403C-96D8-9710F409553A