What Is The Natural Hazard Disclosure Report? 

5-minute read

May 11, 2023

A natural hazard area is where homes face a more significant risk for damage or destruction from natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, landslides and wildfires.

The Natural Hazard Disclosure Report is an essential part of the California home buying process. California Law requires home sellers to provide the document as part of the 1998 Natural Hazard Disclosure Act.

In California, this report discloses if a home is:

• In an area prone to floods

• Rests on an earthquake fault line

• In an area likely to be hit with fires and wildfires

• At risk of a dam breach

• In a seismic hazard zone

An NHD often runs more than 40 pages. And these reports, in addition to the main natural disasters, also disclose if a home is impacted by a wide variety of more minor additional potential hazards that could make insuring a home more expensive or living in it riskier, like a home in an airport influence area.

When you’re selling, your listing real estate agent will usually order your NHD report from a third-party company before the completion of the sale or at escrow. The report will typically cost home sellers $70 – $180, depending on its length.

Once buyers get the NHD form, they can review the document – and if they decide to buy the house, they must sign the Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement.

What should you find in a high quality NHD Report?

The state of California requires that six primary natural hazards be disclosed in an NHD report. These areas include special flood zone areas, dam inundation failure areas, very high fire severity zones, wildland fire areas, earthquake fault zones and seismic hazard zones.These hazard zones are mapped by several different federal, state and local agencies. For example, while dam inundation zones are mapped by FEMA, the “very high fire hazard severity zone” is specific to California. These hazard zones are mapped annually by the state’s Fire Resource & Assessment Program (FRAP), drawing on topography and vegetation data as well as recent fire history. A fully accurate NHD report would subsequently need to draw information from both state and federal agencies. Even more importantly, the information in the report needs to be updated regularly as designations and disclosures provided by these agencies changes. NHD reports can also cover a wide range of environmental hazards that extend beyond disasters like a fire or earthquake. Issues such as living in an airport influence area or an area with radon gas exposure may not affect home insurance rates, but they can affect the property’s desirability. Even Megan’s Law disclosures, which reveal the presence of registered sex offenders, can have a significant impact on a family’s safety and peace of mind. The Natural Hazard Disclosure needs to accurately include all hazard designations for a particular area. Needless to say, sellers cannot afford to work with a report provider that has a reputation for inaccuracy, or one that fails to draw information from every applicable agency. 

Special Flood Hazard Area

Homeowners must indicate whether the home they are selling sits in a Special Flood Hazard Area, an area where a home has a high risk for flooding. Buyers, if they see this box checked, can explore additional insurance to protect themselves financially from future floods. Typically, this means paying extra for flood insurance.

Dam Inundation Zone

The NHD also requires sellers to indicate whether their residence sits in a Dam Inundation Zone. This is an area downstream from a dam that would flood if it suffered a breach or if there was an uncontrolled release of water from the structure. Again, this gives your buyers the chance to consider investing in flood insurance to protect themselves.

Very High Fire Hazard Zone

Another risky location covered in the NHD is the Very High Fire Hazard Zone, an area where fires when they do happen are more likely to be dangerous and destructive. Buyers need to know when the home they are purchasing sits in this type of area because standard homeowners insurance policies might not provide the depth of coverage they need.

Instead, buyers might need to purchase high-risk fire insurance through what is known as a California FAIR (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) Plan. Buyers might also explore taking out additional policies from private insurers willing to cover homes in these hazard zones.

Wildland Hazard Fire Zone

Sellers must also disclose whether their home is in a wildland area that might be at substantial risk for forest fires. The NHD states that it is not the state of California's responsibility to provide fire protection services to any building within a wildlands area, unless the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has reached an agreement with a local agency to provide this protection.

The NHD states that buyers must take precautions against forest fires, including removing dead leaves and debris that can easily ignite.

Earthquake Fault Zone

Earthquakes are also a concern in California. That’s why the NHD requires that sellers disclose if their homes sit in an earthquake fault zone. Fault zones are fractures between two blocks of rock.

These fault zones can move farther apart during an earthquake or creep slowly apart over time. Both of these fault zone movements can cause damage to a home. For homeowners in an earthquake fault zone, earthquake insurance can provide coverage in addition to standard insurance.

Seismic Hazard

NHD reports also require sellers to disclose whether their residences sit in an area prone to earthquakes. Most homeowners insurance policies don’t provide enough financial coverage if your home is damaged or destroyed by an earthquake.

Additional Hazard Zones

Even if you’re not in California, you can’t expect to sell a home without providing buyers with disclosure documents. Depending on where you live, you might have to disclose:

• Whether your home sits in an area prone to hurricanes.

• If tornadoes are a possibility.

• If your home is in a part of the country where there can be volcanic eruptions.

• If the presence of radon gas is a possibility.

• If the noise from a nearby airport might cause regular disturbances.

• If your home sits within a mile of a site in which the U.S. military tested explosive munitions.

The Bottom Line: The NHD Report Can Save Both The Seller And Buyer

The NHD report is a crucial part of any home sale in California. The report can save buyers from taking on more risk than they are comfortable tackling and can help them avoid buying a home that requires expensive insurance. The NHD Report also protects sellers from lawsuits from angry buyers who might otherwise not have realized that they were buying in a flood zone, area prone to earthquakes or part of the state in which forest fires are common occurrences.

This is the official list of all the California counties for which we have issued NHD reports on behalf of the seller and the seller's agent to the buyer part of the seller's disclosure package:

   Alameda County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Alpine County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Amador County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Butte County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Calaveras County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Colusa County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Contra Costa County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Del Norte County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    El Dorado County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Fresno County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Glenn County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Humboldt County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Imperial County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Inyo County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Kern County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Kings County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Lake County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Lassen County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Los Angeles County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Madera County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Marin County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Mariposa County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Mendocino County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Merced County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Modoc County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Mono County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Monterey County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Napa County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Nevada County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Orange County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Placer County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Plumas County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Riverside County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Sacramento County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    San Benito County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    San Bernardino County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    San Diego County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    The City and County of San Francisco, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    San Joaquin County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    San Luis Obispo County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    San Mateo County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Santa Barbara County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Santa Clara County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Santa Cruz County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Shasta County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Sierra County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Siskiyou County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Solano County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Sonoma County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Stanislaus County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Sutter County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Tehama County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Trinity County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Tulare County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Tuolumne County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Ventura County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Yolo County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

    Yuba County, CA Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

 Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

  Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement 2023 NHD Report issued by NHDreportPro.com for residential(home sale) and commercial real estate transaction, escrow closed in 2023.

Government Booklets, Handouts, and Safety Guides for Real Estate Buyers

Signature Page Seller and Buyer Residential Earthquake Risk Disclosure Statement

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Combined – Residential Safety Booklets

This file includes all the required government booklets, handouts, and safety guides for residential properties listed below into a single convenient PDF file including:

RESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT BOOKLETS

A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home

What is Your Home Energy Rating?

Homeowner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety (2020 Edition)

Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home

Residential Environmental Hazards: A Guide for Homeowners, Home-buyers, Landlords, and Tenants

Folletos de Gobierno Combinados (Español)

COMMERCIAL GOVERNMENT BOOKLETS

Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings

Commercial Property Owner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety