What Is a Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHD) in California?

A Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHD) is a legally required California report that tells homebuyers whether a property lies within designated natural hazard zones—such as wildfire areas, flood zones, or earthquake fault zones. Every seller must provide an NHD report during a home sale.

🌋 What the Natural Hazard Disclosure Report Covers

California requires disclosure of six hazardous zones. The NHD report identifies whether the property is located in:

  • Special Flood Hazard Area (FEMA Flood Zone A or V)
  • Dam Inundation Zone
  • Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
  • Wildland Fire Area (State Responsibility Area)
  • Earthquake Fault Zone (Alquist-Priolo)
  • Seismic Hazard Zone (Landslide or Liquefaction)

If a property falls into any of these zones, the seller must disclose it to the buyer.

📘 Why the NHD Report Is Required in California

California's geography and climate expose homes to higher natural risks—wildfires, earthquakes, and floods. Because of this, state law (Civil Code §1103) requires sellers to disclose these hazards to protect buyers from unknown risks.

Most sellers use a third-party NHD provider to generate an official report, which includes maps and state-verified hazard data.

✔️ Who Must Provide an NHD?

All California sellers must provide an NHD when transferring residential real estate, including:

  • Single-family homes
  • Condos and townhomes
  • 1–4 unit properties
  • FSBO (For Sale By Owner) sellers

🚫 Limited Exemptions

Some institutional sellers (trustees, probate administrators, REO banks) may be exempt from the form, but they still cannot conceal known hazard information.

📢 NHD Requirements for FSBO Sellers

Even when selling For Sale By Owner, you must provide an NHD report to your buyer. If you list your home on the MLS using a flat fee MLS listing service, the NHD requirement still applies.

The NHD is typically delivered with other California disclosures such as the TDS, SPQ, earthquake disclosures, water heater bracing certification, and smoke/CO compliance.

For a full explanation of disclosure rules, see:
Seller Disclosures in Real Estate Explained

📚 Learn more in our Real Estate Glossary.