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California · Civil Code §1103.2California Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement (NHD): zones, timing and the 3/5-day right

In California the seller of a one-to-four unit home gives the buyer the Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement set out in Civil Code §1103.2, stating whether the property lies in a FEMA special flood hazard area, a dam failure inundation area, a high or very high fire hazard severity zone, a wildland fire area, an earthquake fault zone or a seismic hazard zone. It is delivered as soon as practicable before transfer of title (§1103.3). If it is delivered after the offer is accepted, the buyer has 3 days after delivery in person, or 5 days after mail or electronic delivery, to terminate in writing.

The six zones on the statement

  1. Flood

    A special flood hazard area (any Zone A or V) designated by FEMA.

  2. Dam failure

    An area of potential flooding on a dam failure inundation map (Gov. Code §8589.5).

  3. Fire

    A high or very high fire hazard severity zone, and a wildland area with substantial forest fire risks – each with owner maintenance duties.

  4. Earthquake

    An earthquake fault zone (Pub. Res. Code §2622) and a seismic hazard zone – landslide or liquefaction (§2696).

The rules

  • Timing (§1103.3(a)): as soon as practicable before transfer of title; for a land contract or lease-option, before the buyer signs.
  • Late delivery (§1103.3(c)): 3 days after delivery in person, 5 days after mail or agreed electronic delivery, to terminate by written notice.
  • Third-party reports (§1103.4): an expert's report delivered to the buyer protects seller and agents from errors not within their personal knowledge, if ordinary care was used.
  • If a fire or seismic map is not accurate enough to tell, the statement is marked “Yes” unless a §1103.4(c) report shows the property is outside the zone (§1103.2(b)).
  • Exempt (§1103.1): court-ordered and foreclosure sales, fiduciaries administering trusts or estates (except certain revocable trusts), and other listed transfers.

What the TC tracks

  • NHD report ordered early and delivered before the buyer's disclosure deadline.
  • Buyer's signature on the statement and the delivery method – it decides 3 or 5 days.
  • Any amended disclosure, which restarts the termination window.
  • Flood zone result passed to the lender and insurance agent.

Questions about the California NHD

What zones are on the California Natural Hazard Disclosure?

FEMA special flood hazard area, dam failure inundation area, high or very high fire hazard severity zone, wildland fire area, earthquake fault zone and seismic hazard zone (Civil Code §1103.2).

When must the NHD be delivered in California?

As soon as practicable before transfer of title (§1103.3(a)(1)). In practice the purchase agreement sets an earlier disclosure deadline.

Can a buyer cancel after receiving the NHD?

If it is delivered after the offer is accepted, the buyer may terminate within 3 days after delivery in person or 5 days after delivery by mail or electronically (§1103.3(c)).

Does a third-party NHD report protect the seller?

Yes, for errors not within the seller's or agents' personal knowledge, when ordinary care was used in obtaining and transmitting it (§1103.4).

Are probate sales exempt from the NHD?

Sales ordered by a probate court and transfers by fiduciaries administering an estate are exempt, with an exception for certain revocable trusts (§1103.1).

Related guides

Track the NHD order, delivery and the buyer's 3- or 5-day window as tasks with owners and due dates in ClosingCode, and keep the signed statement with the deal documents.

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Source: California Civil Code §§1103, 1103.1, 1103.2, 1103.3, 1103.4, 1103.7 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, read October 24, 2026).

General information, not legal advice. ClosingCode is software; it is not a law firm or brokerage.