Bill > SB629

This bill addresses wildfire prevention and fire hazard severity zones by introducing several key provisions to improve community safety and fire preparedness. The legislation requires the State Fire Marshal to update fire hazard severity zone designations to include areas that have experienced significant wildfires (burning 1,000 or more acres, destroying more than 10 structures, or resulting in fatalities) and areas at risk for urban conflagrations where structures can serve as fuel sources. Cities and counties will be required to designate these fire-impacted areas as very high fire hazard severity zones by January 1, 2025, with the option to exclude areas if they can demonstrate that fire protection standards are unnecessary. The bill also mandates that local and state fire authorities establish comprehensive enforcement programs by January 1, 2027, to verify compliance with defensible space, vegetation management, and fuel modification requirements. These enforcement agencies will be authorized to conduct annual inspections of properties and charge fees to cover program costs. The bill emphasizes the importance of building to wildland-urban interface (WUI) standards and maintaining defensible space, which can reduce the likelihood of home destruction by up to 40 percent. By introducing these requirements, the legislation aims to proactively mitigate wildfire risks and protect communities in fire-prone regions of California.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB629