At its August 17th, 2022 meeting, the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (BOF) unanimously approved the updated State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations. These regulations retain the identical road standards as in the 2020 regulations that we supported. They include minimum 20 foot wide roads, dead-end roads no longer than 800 feet to 1 mile, as well as many other specifications. The regulations apply to all residential, commercial, and industrial development in both the state responsibility area and in very high fire hazard severity zones in incorporated cities.
The BOF rejected the efforts during the past two years by the Rural County Representatives of California, Sonoma County, and the California Building Industry Association to gut the regulations. This would have encouraged development in dangerous fire-prone areas. This outcome would not have been possible without the participation of concerned individuals, grassroots and environmental organizations and our valued partners.
The BOF, as well as the California Attorney General’s Office, decisively confirmed that the regulations concerning access to a parcel being developed apply to all existing roads. The Exception process must follow strict requirements with material facts to demonstrate the Same Practical Effect as the State Fire Safe Regulations within a development perimeter. For substandard public roads needing improvement to meet the regulations, the public agency must determine whether the agency or the applicant will pay for the upgrade. If no upgrades are made, the development cannot proceed.
Thank you to SAFRR: State Alliance for Firesafe Road Regulations (our northern/southern CA Alliance) and all who joined the battle to ensure our fire fighters and evacuees will have the safest possible ingress and egress while navigating hillside roads during an emergency.