CA SB182

Requires cities and counties containing very high fire risk areas to amend land use elements of general plans by June 1, 2022 to identify fire risk zones and include wildfire risk reduction objectives and policies.

Mandates adoption of comprehensive retrofit strategies in safety elements to reduce property loss during wildfires, including identification of structures needing fire hardening, goals for retrofit completion, and funding strategies.

Establishes wildfire risk reduction standards for new development by January 1, 2023, requiring defensible space, vegetation management, fire-resistant materials, and enforcement programs varying by development size.

Requires regional housing allocation plans to reduce development pressure in very high fire risk areas by allocating lower housing quotas to jurisdictions where development would otherwise require building in high-risk zones.

Establishes Wildfire Risk Reduction Planning Support Grants Program providing $250,000-$350,000 grants to small jurisdictions in counties under 250,000 population to fund planning activities and wildfire risk reduction implementation.