On May 15, 2025, the Los Altos Hills City Council voted 3-1 to adopt an alternate Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) map, increasing fire hazard designations for approximately 50 properties beyond the levels determined by the State of California’s Cal Fire map. This action was not required by state law.

The alternate designations may result in:

* Stricter and costly building restrictions
* Increased disclosure obligations negatively impacting property values
* Potential future insurance coverage and premium issues
* Long-term difficulty reversing these designations
While we fully support responsible fire safety measures, we believe this decision unfairly burdens homeowners, lacks sufficient community engagement, and bypasses alternative means to promote safety without permanent designations.

We respectfully urge the Los Altos Hills City Council to:

Reverse the May 15, 2025, decision.
Adopt the official Cal Fire hazard map.
Engage in further transparent dialogue with affected homeowners.
Please sign and share to help protect homeowner rights and promote responsible, balanced fire safety policy in Los Altos Hills.

[Signature collection will continue until the June 18 final vote date]