The Planning and Zoning Law requires the legislative body of a city or county to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan that includes various elements, including, among others, a safety element for the protection of the community from unreasonable risks associated with the effects of various geologic and seismic hazards, flooding, and wildland and urban fires. Existing law requires the planning agency to review and, if necessary, revise the safety element upon each revision of its housing element or local hazard mitigation plan, but not less than once every 8 years, to identify new information relating to flood and fire hazards and climate adaptation and resiliency strategies applicable to the city or county that was not available during the previous revision of the safety element.
This bill would require a city or county, upon the next
revision of its local hazard mitigation plan on or after January 1, 2024, to review and update its safety element as necessary to address the hazard of extreme heat, as specified. The bill, after the initial revision of the safety element pursuant to these provisions, would require the planning agency to review and revise the safety element upon each revision of the housing element or local hazard mitigation plan to identify new information relating to extreme heat hazards and climate adaptation and resiliency strategies that was not available during the previous revision of the safety element.
The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school
districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.