Fire Hazard Severity Zones

The County of Santa Cruz is undertaking the designation of Fire Hazard Severity Zones for Local Responsibility Areas within the unincorporated regions of County Service Areas 4 and 48. This project, falling under the jurisdiction of the Santa Cruz County Fire Department, is a state-mandated requirement per California Government Code Section 51179(a) to identify Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The primary objective is the official adoption and mapping of these zones to support building code enforcement, fire prevention strategies, and land use planning. The project is classified as a ministerial action, meaning it involves no discretionary decision-making and is therefore exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under Public Resources Code section 21080(b)(1) and categorical exemption Class 1. While the activity is listed as a forecast with a posted date of July 30, 2025, it is a regulatory compliance process rather than a competitive procurement. Consequently, there are no specified contract values, evaluation factors for award, or standard federal acquisition clauses. Administrative coordination is managed by Paola Echeverria within the Department of Community Development and Infrastructure.