Wildfires: fire hazard severity zones: defensible space, vegetation management, and fuel modification enforcement.

Senator Durazo's wildfire safety legislation revises California's approach to identifying and managing fire hazard severity zones, introducing new requirements for areas affected by significant wildfires. The bill requires the State Fire Marshal to consider additional factors when designating fire hazard zones, including areas within the perimeter of wildfires that burned over 1,000 acres, destroyed more than 10 structures, or resulted in fatalities. The designation criteria now also encompass areas at risk of urban conflagration where structures could act as fuel sources.

Cities and counties must designate areas within their jurisdiction that experience qualifying wildfires as very high fire hazard severity zones within 120 days of containment. Local governments can exclude areas from this designation only if they demonstrate that state fire protection standards are unnecessary for effective fire protection. Before adopting these designations, municipalities must consult with the Office of the State Fire Marshal and local fire protection agencies, incorporating their recommendations or providing written justification for declining them.

Beginning January 1, 2027, the legislation mandates that local and state fire authorities establish and fund enforcement programs to verify compliance with defensible space, vegetation management, and fuel modification requirements. These agencies must conduct annual inspections of affected properties and submit compliance data to a state reporting platform. Agencies may charge fees to cover program administration and inspection costs, while those demonstrating adequate progress toward implementation may delay full compliance until January 1, 2029.