San Diego County, California

Last verified 2026-06-11 · Methodology · Changelog

Local wildfire code status: Adopted with local amendments

San Diego County consolidated its wildfire construction and defensible space rules into the 2026 San Diego County Consolidated WUI Fire Code (1st Edition). The county defensible space ordinance requires clearance within 100 feet of structures (reducible to no less than 30 feet by the Fire Warden), structured as a 0 to 5 foot hardscape zone, irrigated low-growth fire-resistant planting from 5 to 50 feet, and managed medium-height planting from 50 to 100 feet.

Sources: [1] · [2]

Hazard designation

Extensive areas of the unincorporated county are designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones under CAL FIRE mapping; the 2026 Consolidated WUI Code applies county fire authority standards across those areas.

Active mitigation programs

No county-specific programs are currently tracked here. Statewide programs on the California page may apply.

Insurance market conditions

County-specific non-renewal figures publish through CDI data calls; statewide, CDI's 2023 data shows non-renewals outnumbered new policies in 46 of 58 counties, and FAIR Plan residential policies grew 165 percent statewide from September 2021 to September 2025. County-level FAIR Plan policy counts are published in the FAIR Plan's policies-in-force tables by county.

Sources: [1] · [2]

Market data is presented as sourced conditions, not advice about any carrier or policy decision. Verify current conditions with the state insurance department or a licensed professional.