Land Use Planning

The Wildfire Hazard Legislation and Safety Element Planning and Zoning Law requires that cities and counties adopt a comprehensive general plan with various elements including a safety element for protection of the community from unreasonable risks associated with various hazards, including wildfires (CGC 65302.5). The Land Use Planning program assists the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (the Board) and the local agency that shall review the draft or an existing safety element and recommend changes to the planning agency within 60 days of its receipt regarding both of the following:

(A) Uses of land and policies in state responsibility areas and very high fire hazard severity zones that will protect life, property, and natural resources from unreasonable risks associated with wild land fires.

(B) Methods and strategies for wild land fire risk reduction and prevention within state responsibility areas and very high fire hazard severity zones. These methods and strategies shall reflect accepted best practices in the most recent guidance document entitled “Fire Hazard Planning, General Plan Technical Advice Series,” as identified in Section 65040.21.

Land Use Planning Laws

California Law Picture

Land Use Planning for Wildfires Trainings

We are excited to announce that the Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation Division in collaboration with the Community Wildfire Planning Center are offering another round of trainings this October and November.

“An Introduction to Land Use Planning for Wildfires in California” are free, all-day, in person trainings, and are open to land use planners, fire marshals, fire chiefs, fire mitigation specialists, building officials, and other professionals from government agencies and the private sector engaged in planning, policy, development review and/or approval activities in California.
 

 

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Yupa Fire


Statewide Program Administrator
Sacramento Contacts
Northern Region Contacts
  • James Ausboe
    Fire Captain
    James.Ausboe@fire.ca.gov
    (530)-410-5592
    Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yuba
  • Scott Augustine
    Fire Captain
    Scott.Augustine@fire.ca.gov
    (530) 410-5142
    Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz

  • Jacob Gilliam
    Fire Captain
    Jacob.Gilliam@fire.ca.gov

    Alpine, Amador, Colusa, El Dorado, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Sacramento, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo

Southern Region Contacts
  • Jose Quintana
    Battalion Chief
    Jose.Quintana@fire.ca.gov
    (559) 243-8992 Office
    (951) 201-9918 Cell
    Merced, Stanislaus, San Benito, Kings

  • Leonel Plata
    Fire Captain
    Leonel.Plata@fire.ca.gov
    (559)-478-7274
    Fresno, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Monterey, Mariposa, Madera, San Joaquin, Tulare, Kern

Subdivision Review Program

The State Fire Marshals Subdivision Review Program seeks to improve fire safety in high-risk subdivisions without secondary exits.

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Sub

Firewise Communities

California is prone to the threat of wildfires, there are things you can do to protect your neighborhood, home, and family. Visit the links below to learn how.

 

 

Firewise Community
BOF Land Use Planning Safety Element

landuseplanning@bof.ca.gov