CA SB63

Director of Forestry and Fire Protection (or State Fire Marshal in alternate sections) must identify areas of California as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and wind patterns.

Local agencies must make fire hazard severity zone information available for public review and comment within 30 days of receiving identification from the state.

Fuel modification beyond property lines may only be required to maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures and requires written consent from adjacent landowners.

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shall establish a local assistance grant program for fire prevention activities including vegetation management along roadways, public education on wildfire resilience, defensible space improvements, and home hardening projects in fire-threatened communities.

State Fire Marshal and Department of Housing and Community Development shall propose expanded application of fire protection building standards to high fire hazard severity zones and consider expansion to moderate fire hazard severity zones during the next code adoption cycle.