Bill Text: CA SB610 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Fire prevention: wildfire mitigation area: defensible space: State Fire Marshal: real property disclosures: fire protection building standards.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-06-11 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. [SB610 Detail]
Download: California-2023-SB610-Amended.html
Amended
IN
Assembly
June 11, 2024 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
June 19, 2023 |
Introduced by Senator Wiener |
February 15, 2023 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas of the state
as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on specified criteria. Existing law requires a local agency to designate, by ordinance transmitted to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones in its jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal. Existing law authorizes a local agency, at its discretion, to include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as very high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as very high fire hazard severity zones following a finding supported by substantial evidence, as provided. Existing law authorizes a local agency, at its discretion, to include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones, respectively. Existing law prohibits a local agency from decreasing the level of
fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal for any area within the jurisdiction of the local agency.
This bill would require a local agency to make a finding of necessity supported by substantial evidence in the record when including, as a moderate or high fire hazard severity zone, a zone not so identified by the State Fire Marshal. The bill would eliminate the prohibition on local agencies decreasing the level of fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal and would authorize a local agency, at its discretion, to exclude areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, identified by the State Fire Marshal as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones, from designation as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones, respectively, following a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record of the necessity of the exclusion.
Existing law
requires a local agency to transmit a copy of an adopted ordinance to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within 30 days of adoption. Under existing law, changes made by a local agency to the recommendations made by the State Fire Marshal are final and are not rebuttable by the State Fire Marshal.
This bill would delete that explicit prohibition on the State Fire Marshal rebutting a change made by a local agency. The bill would instead require a local agency that has made changes to the recommendations made by the State Fire Marshal to provide a public comment period of 60 days, as provided, and would provide that the ordinance shall not be considered adopted until it is approved by the State Fire Marshal.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program:Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 1102.6f of the Civil Code is amended to read:1102.6f.
(a) On or after January 1, 2021, in addition to any other disclosure required pursuant to this article, the seller of any real property subject to this article that is located in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone, as identified by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Section 51178 of the Government Code or Article 9 (commencing with Section 4201) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, or in the wildfire mitigation area, as identified by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 4201) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, as applicable, shall provide a disclosure notice to the buyer, if the home was constructed before January 1, 2010, that includes the following information:SEC. 2.
Section 1102.19 of the Civil Code is amended to read:1102.19.
(a) On and after July 1, 2021, a seller of a real property subject to this article that is located in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone, as identified by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Section 51178 of the Government Code or Article 9 (commencing with Section 4201) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, or in the wildfire mitigation area, as identified by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 4201) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, as applicable, shall provide to the buyer documentation stating that the property is in compliance with Section 4291 of the Public Resources Code or local vegetation management ordinances, as follows:SEC. 3.
Section 1103 of the Civil Code is amended to read:1103.
(a) For purpose of this article, the definitions in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 10000) of Part 1 of Division 4 of the Business and Professions Code shall apply.SEC. 4.
Section 51177 of the Government Code is amended to read:51177.
As used in this chapter:SEC. 5.
Section 51178 of the Government Code is amended to read:51178.
(a) The State Fire Marshal shall identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread.SEC. 6.
Section 51179 of the Government Code is amended to read:51179.
(a) A local agency shall designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones in its jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178.SEC. 7.
Section 51181 of the Government Code is repealed.The State Fire Marshal shall periodically review the areas in the state identified as very high fire hazard severity zones pursuant to this chapter, and as necessary, shall make recommendations relative to very high fire hazard severity zones. This review shall coincide with the review of state responsibility area lands every five years and, when possible, fall within the time frames for each county’s general plan update. Any revision of areas included in a very high fire hazard severity zone shall be made in accordance with Sections 51178 and 51179.
SEC. 8.
Section 51182 of the Government Code is amended to read:51182.
(a) A person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains an occupied dwelling or occupied structure in, upon, or adjoining a mountainous area, forest-covered land, shrub-covered land, grass-covered land, or land that is covered with flammable material, which area or land is within a very high fire hazard severity zone designated by the local agency pursuant to Section 51179, shall at all times do all of the following:SEC. 9.
Section 51182 is added to the Government Code, to read:51182.
(a) A person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains an occupied dwelling or occupied structure in, upon, or adjoining a mountainous area, forest-covered land, shrub-covered land, grass-covered land, or land that is covered with flammable material, which area or land is within the wildfire mitigation area, shall at all times do all of the following:SEC. 10.
Section 51182.1 is added to the Government Code, to read:51182.1.
The State Fire Marshal shall adopt regulations to implement Section 51182, as added by Senate Bill 610 of the 2023–24 Regular Session. The State Fire Marshal shall, within two business days of the adoption of the regulations, provide notice on its internet website that the regulations have been adopted.SEC. 11.
Section 13108.4 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:13108.4.
The State Fire Marshal shall establish wildfire mitigation measures in the wildfire mitigation area, as designated by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 4202 of the Public Resources Code. Wildfire mitigation measures required under this section shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:SEC. 12.
Section 13108.5 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:13108.5.
(a) The State Fire Marshal, before the adoption of the wildfire mitigation area regulations pursuant to Section 4202 of the Public Resources Code, in consultation with the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Director of Housing and Community Development, shall, pursuant to Section 18930, propose fire protection building standards for roofs, exterior walls, structure projections, including, but not limited to, porches, decks, balconies, and eaves, and structure openings, including, but not limited to, attic and eave vents and windows of buildings in fire hazard severity zones, including very high fire hazard severity zones designated by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 4201) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code.(d)
SEC. 13.
Section 4201 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:4201.
The purpose of this article is to provide for the classification of lands withinSEC. 14.
Section 4202 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:4202.
The State Fire Marshal shallSEC. 15.
Section 4203 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:4203.
(a)(b)No designation of a zone and assignment of a rating shall be adopted by the State Fire Marshal until the proposed regulation has been transmitted to the board of supervisors of the county in which the zone is located at least 45 days before the adoption of the proposed regulation and a public hearing has been held in that county during that 45-day period.
SEC. 16.
Section 4204 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:4204.
(a) The State Fire Marshal shall periodicallySEC. 17.
Section 4290 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:4290.
(a) The board shall adopt regulations implementing minimum fire safety standards related to defensible space that are applicable to state responsibility area lands under the authority of the department, and to lands classified and designated as very high fire hazard severity zones, as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 51177 of the Government Code. These regulations apply to the perimeters and access to all residential, commercial, and industrial building construction within state responsibility areas approved after January 1, 1991, and within lands classified and designated as very high fire hazard severity zones, as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 51177 of the Government Code after July 1, 2021. The board may not adopt building standards, as defined in Section 18909 of the Health and Safety Code, under the authority of this section. As an integral part of fire safety standards, the State Fire Marshal has the authority to adopt regulations for roof coverings and openings into the attic areas of buildings specified in Section 13108.5 of the Health and Safety Code. The regulations apply to the placement of mobile homes as defined by National Fire Protection Association standards. These regulations do not apply where an application for a building permit was filed prior to January 1, 1991, or to parcel or tentative maps or other developments approved prior to January 1, 1991, if the final map for the tentative map is approved within the time prescribed by the local ordinance. The regulations shall include all of the following:SEC. 18.
Section 4290 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:4290.
(a) The State Fire Marshal shall adopt regulations implementing minimum fire safety standards related to lands within the wildfire mitigation area, as designated pursuant to Section 4202. These regulations apply to the perimeters and access to all residential, commercial, and industrial building construction within state responsibility areas approved after January 1, 1991, and within the wildfire mitigation area, as designated pursuant to Section 4202. As an integral part of fire safety standards, the State Fire Marshal has the authority to adopt regulations for roof coverings and openings into the attic areas of buildings specified in Section 13108.5 of the Health and Safety Code. The regulations apply to the placement of mobile homes as defined by National Fire Protection Association standards. These regulations do not apply where an application for a building permit was filed prior to January 1, 1991, or to parcel or tentative maps or other developments approved prior to January 1, 1991, if the final map for the tentative map is approved within the time prescribed by the local ordinance. The regulations shall include all of the following:SEC. 19.
Section 4290.05 is added to the Public Resources Code, immediately following Section 4290, to read:4290.05.
The State Fire Marshal shall adopt regulations to implement Section 4290, as added by Senate Bill 610 of the 2023–24 Regular Session. The State Fire Marshal shall, within two business days of the adoption of the regulations, provide notice on its internet website that the regulations have been adopted.SEC. 20.
Section 4291 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:4291.
(a) A person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains a building or structure in, upon, or adjoining a mountainous area, forest-covered lands, shrub-covered lands, grass-covered lands, or land that is covered with flammable material, shall at all times do all of the following:(c)
(d)
(e)
(2)On or before January 1, 2023, the board, in consultation with the State Fire Marshal, shall update the guidance document to include suggestions for creating an ember-resistant zone within five feet of a structure, based on regulations promulgated by the board, in consultation with the department, to consider the elimination of materials in the ember-resistant zone that would likely be ignited by embers.
(f)The State Fire Marshal shall do both of the following:
(1)Recommend to the board the types of vegetation or fuel that are to be excluded from an ember-resistant zone based on the probability that vegetation and fuel will lead to ignition by ember of a structure as a part of the update to the guidance document pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (e).
(2)Make reasonable efforts to provide notice to affected residents describing the requirements added by the amendments to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) made in Assembly Bill 3074 of the 2019–20 Regular Session before the imposition of penalties for violating those requirements.
(g)(1)The requirement for an ember-resistant zone pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall not take effect for new structures until the board updates the regulations, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), and the guidance document, pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (e).
(2)The requirement for an ember-resistant zone pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall take effect for existing structures one year after the effective date for the new structures.
(h)The department shall not change defensible space inspection practices and forms or enforcement to implement the requirement for an ember-resistant zone until the
State Fire Marshal makes a written finding, which the State Fire Marshal shall post on the department’s internet website, that the Legislature has appropriated sufficient resources to do so.
(i)
(j)
SEC. 21.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district because, in that regard, this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.(a)A local agency shall designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones in its jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178.
(b)(1)A local agency may, at its discretion, include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as very high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as very high fire hazard severity zones following a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Section 51182 are necessary for effective fire protection within the area.
(2)A local agency may, at its discretion, include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones, respectively, following a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record of the necessity of the inclusion.
(3)A local agency may, at its discretion, exclude areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, identified as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, from designation as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones, respectively, following a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record of the necessity of the exclusion.
(c)The local agency shall
transmit a copy of an ordinance adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) or (d), as applicable, to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within 30 days of adoption.
(d)A local agency that has made changes to the recommendations made by the State Fire Marshal, pursuant to subdivision (b), shall
provide a public comment period of 60 days, commencing after the initial designation described in subdivision (a). The ordinance shall not be considered adopted by the local agency until it is approved by the State Fire Marshal.
(e)The State Fire Marshal shall prepare and adopt a model ordinance that provides for the establishment of very high fire hazard severity zones.
(f)Any ordinance adopted by a local agency pursuant to this section that substantially conforms to the model ordinance of the State Fire Marshal shall be presumed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section.
(g)A local agency shall post a notice at the office of the county recorder, county assessor, and county planning
agency identifying the location of the map provided by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178. If the local agency amends the map, pursuant to subdivision (b), the notice shall instead identify the location of the amended map.