8:12Class A · fire zones · insurance
Fire-Resistant Class A Roofs for Lamorinda and Danville
In a very high fire hazard severity zone, replacing more than half your roof within a year means the whole covering must be at least Class A (HSC §13132.7). Parts of Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette, Danville, Clayton and Concord are mapped very high; Walnut Creek was not on the state's 2025 list. A Class A roof also counts toward insurance discounts under California's Safer from Wildfires program.
8:12The rating
Class A covering vs. Class A assembly
Roof coverings are fire-tested and rated Class A, B or C. Class A is the top rating: coverings effective against severe fire test exposure.
- Class A covering. The product earns the rating by itself. Clay and concrete tile and most fiberglass asphalt shingles are listed this way.
- Class A by assembly. The product reaches Class A only over a specific underlayment or cap sheet named in its listing. Some metal, synthetic and treated-wood products work this way.
Either can satisfy a Class A requirement, but only if the roofer installs the listed assembly. Ask for the listing in the bid.
10:12The law
When California requires Class A
"…the entire roof covering of every existing structure where more than 50 percent of the total roof area is replaced within any one-year period, every new structure, and any roof covering applied in the alteration, repair, or replacement of the roof of every existing structure, shall be a fire retardant roof covering that is at least class A."California Health & Safety Code §13132.7(d)(1), for very high fire hazard severity zones (FindLaw)
Local agencies can adopt their own ordinances under the statute, and Contra Costa County notes that "Orinda and Lafayette have specific areas requiring Class A or Class B roofs, check with City" (County re-roof requirements).
Code update: in the 2025 code cycle (effective January 1, 2026), California moved the wildfire construction rules formerly in Chapter 7A / CRC R337 into the new California Wildland-Urban Interface Code. Ask the building department which section applies to your re-roof. Separately, the Board of Forestry's "Zone 0" rules for the first 5 feet around homes were adopted August 19, 2026 and withdrawn from state review in September 2026; as of October 2026 they are not in force.
6:12The maps
New fire hazard maps, effective 2025
The state's updated maps for Local Responsibility Areas now show moderate, high and very high zones, not only very high. Lafayette's current map, for example, "went into effect on July 10, 2025" and shows 41 acres as very high (City of Lafayette).
In 2025 the state listed 12 Contra Costa cities with very high fire hazard areas, including Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette, Danville, Clayton and Concord. Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill were not on that list (Local News Matters).
5:12Embers
The roof is more than the covering
Wind-blown embers get into homes through vents, gaps at the eaves and debris-filled gutters and valleys. When you replace a roof in a fire zone, ask about:
- Ember-resistant attic and ridge vents
- Bird-stopping and sealed gaps at tile eaves
- Metal drip edge and closed valleys that don't trap leaves
- Keeping valleys and gutters clear of oak and bay leaves
The Moraga-Orinda Fire District has run a home-hardening grant program for ember-resistant vents and gutter guards; the posted round ran through June 30, 2026, so check MOFD for current availability.
3:12Insurance
Class A and your premium
The Department of Insurance's Safer from Wildfires FAQ lists a "Class A fire-rated roof" among the actions that "will qualify you for an insurance discount," and says "the FAIR Plan will also offer discounts" (CDI FAQ, Sept. 2026).
Discount amounts vary by insurer and nobody can promise you a renewal or a rate. Ask your agent what documentation they want (permit final, product listing) before work starts.
Next: permit and cool-roof rules · materials compared · costs · Orinda · Lafayette
Sources
- California Health & Safety Code §13132.7 (FindLaw)
- Contra Costa County: Residential Re-Roof Requirements
- City of Lafayette: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map
- Local News Matters: 12 Contra Costa cities have very high fire hazard severity areas (Feb. 28, 2025)
- CAL FIRE / State Fire Marshal: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
- Contra Costa County Fire Protection District: LRA Maps
- Moraga-Orinda Fire District: LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
- San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District: Fire Hazard Severity Zones (LRA)
- Moraga-Orinda Fire District: Home Hardening Grant Program
- California Department of Insurance: FAQ, Safer from Wildfires Regulation (Sept. 2026)
3:12FAQ
Questions homeowners ask
What is the most fire-resistant roof?
Look for a Class A rating, the highest rating in the standard roof fire test. Clay and concrete tile, metal and many asphalt shingles reach Class A, some only as part of a tested assembly with a specific underlayment. Ember-resistant vents, closed-off eaves and clean gutters and valleys matter as much as the covering.
What is a Class A roof in California?
A roof covering or assembly rated Class A in fire testing: the rating for coverings effective against severe fire exposure. In very high fire hazard severity zones, HSC §13132.7 requires at least Class A when more than 50% of an existing roof is replaced within a year, on new structures, and for roof coverings used in alterations, repairs or replacement.
How do I know if my roof is Class A?
Check the permit records for the last re-roof, the product name on the shingle wrapper or invoice, and the manufacturer's listing, which states whether the product is Class A by itself or only in a specific assembly. A roofer can usually identify the product on an inspection.
Will a Class A roof lower my insurance?
It can count toward a discount. The Department of Insurance's Safer from Wildfires FAQ lists a "Class A fire-rated roof" among actions that "will qualify you for an insurance discount," and says the FAIR Plan "will also offer discounts" (CDI, Sept. 2026). The amount depends on your insurer; ask before and after the work.
12:12Quote
Get a Class A roof quote
Tell us about the roof. A local roofing contractor who serves your city can call to schedule an inspection and written bid.
- Composition, tile, flat and metal roofs
- Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Danville and nearby
- Prefer to talk? (925) 281-5910