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 CA Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (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

Land Use Planning for Wildfires Trainings

CAL FIRE - Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation Division and the Community Wildfire Planning Center are excited to announce trainings for 2024.

Registration now open!

Learn More

Statewide Program Administrator
Sacramento Contacts

  • Vacant
    Battalion Chief
  • Melinda Pritchard
    Associate Governmental Program Analyst
    Melinda.Pritchard@fire.ca.gov
    (916) 261-3977
Northern Region Contacts
  • James Ausboe
    Fire Captain
    James.Ausboe@fire.ca.gov
    (530)-410-5592
    Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, Lake, Butte, Modoc, Lassen, Plumas, Sonoma, Napa, Sierra, Nevada, Yuba, Placer, Sutter, Yolo
  • Malcolm Kennedy
    Fire Captain
    Malcolm.Kennedy@fire.ca.gov
    (530)-360-5291
    San Francisco, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Stanislaus (West), Marin, Solano, El Dorado, Sacramento, Amador, Alpine, San Joaquin
  • Vacant
    Battalion Chief
  • Vacant
    Fire Captain
Southern Region Contacts
  • Kyle O'Neil
    Fire Captain
    Kyle.Oneil@fire.ca.gov
    (559) 243-8993 Office
    (559) 400-2464 Cell
    Stanislaus (East), Calaveras, Tuolumne, Merced, Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Monterey, San Benito, San Joaquin
  • Brian Olsen
    Fire Captain
    Brian.Olsen@fire.ca.gov
    (951) 320-6122 Office
    (951) 235-1257 Cell
    San Diego, Imperial, Inyo, Mono, San Bernardino

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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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.

 

 

BOF Land Use Planning Safety Element

landuseplanning@bof.ca.gov