 VENTURA — (On Oct. 21) the County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution, brought forward by Supervisor Jeff Gorell, urging the Governor, State Legislature and the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to reconsider California’s draft Ember-Resistant Zone 0 regulations and amend AB 3074 (2020) to restore local control, adequate funding, and regionally adaptable implementation.
The action follows Governor Newsom’s signing earlier this month of AB 1455 and AB 888—two bills aimed at advancing wildfire safety through defensible-space standards. Supervisor Gorell commended the intent of those measures but cautioned that they don’t go far enough to address the core challenges facing local governments and homeowners.
“Ventura County supports stronger wildfire safety measures,” said Supervisor Jeff Gorell. “But Sacramento’s one-size-fits-all approach to maps and regulations ignores local realities. Without clear funding, local flexibility, or practical timelines, these rules risk creating another unfunded mandate that burdens homeowners and drives up insurance and housing costs.”
The resolution recognizes the importance of wildfire mitigation but warns that the State’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps and proposed Zone 0 rules—which require the removal of all combustible materials within five feet of structures in high fire zones—could impose significant costs on residents and local governments.
Under current drafts, fire agencies could be required to inspect and enforce defensible-space compliance on tens of thousands of additional parcels, without any dedicated state support.
The Ventura County resolution urges the State to:
- Restore local discretion under California Code section 1299.05, allowing local fire experts to approve alternative, effective practices that reflect regional geography, ecology, and architectural differences;
- Provide dedicated funding to support inspections, homeowner assistance, and public-education programs;
- Adopt phased, regionally adaptable timelines that align with each community’s capacity and resources; and
- Provide greater discretion at the local level for trees and plants.
“We must continue working together—state, local, and community partners alike—to keep our residents safe, protect homes and preserve our natural landscapes. Providing local discretion helps our fire professionals and community members to work together to help strengthen mitigation efforts at the local level,” added Gorell.
###
Resources:
Resolution
Board Item 40 Materials
Video: Item starts at hour 2:24
Board of Forestry and Fire Protection Zone 0
Conejo Valley Community Zone 0 Webpage
|
