Laguna Beach, CA
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Real Estate Disclosure - Compliance with Defensible Space Requirements
Please review the updated information on the page below, effective June 25, 2025.
On July 1, 2021, the new requirements for compliance with Assembly Bill 38 (2019) (click here), also known as AB-38, went into effect for real property sales in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Approximately 85% of the City of Laguna Beach is in this Zone. This is applicable for residential properties with one to four units, and that require a Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS).
As part of AB 38 codification, new Civil Code Section 1102.19 was added. That section includes requirements for defensible space inspections and documentation of compliance. The Laguna Beach Fire Department (LBFD) conducts the inspections based on order of received requests. The inspection requirements can be found in the LBFD Defensible Space Guidelines (click here).
If significant changes to the site vegetation are necessitated as a result of the inspection, and the property has a Design Review Board approved landscape plan, then a revised landscape plan must be approved through the City's Administrative Design Review process prior to commencing with changes to the plantings. 
On June 24, 2025, the City Council adopted the 2025 Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for Laguna Beach, in accordance with the recommendations of the California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) and to ensure compliance with California Government Code Sections 51178.5 and 51179.
Once a property is verified as meeting the requirements, the LBFD will issue a Letter of Compliance to the property owner.
To assist in determining if a property is in the High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, the LBFD has created a Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map webpage (click here) providing resources such as an interactive map to look up a specific address. Residents and real estate agents can also utilize the webpage to learn more about how the zones are developed.
Condominiums Specific Information: Condominiums that are in areas falling with a “Very High” Fire Hazard Severity Zone are subject to the disclosure requirement of Assembly Bill 38 (2019). The law does not contain limitations or exclusion as they relate to condominiums. The AB-38 inspections for condominiums are unique in that the responsibility party for completing any potential corrective actions may fall within the HOA / property management company’s purview.
The text of AB-38 requires the seller of any real property located within “Very High” Fire Hazard Severity Zone to provide a disclosure report to the buyer. The inspection report that is provided by the Laguna Beach Fire Department upon the conclusion of this inspection satisfies this requirement.
To request an inspection, please fill out the form below and submit it once complete. One of our professional fire prevention staff will contact you for scheduling.
- CAL FIRE Home Hardening: Low-Cost Retrofit List - A list created by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) developed as a best practices guide and to assist homeowners to ensure their home is more ignition-resistant from wildfires.