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TO: |
Board of Directors, San Diego County Fire Protection District |
SUBJECT
Title
NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING:
ANNUAL FIRE MITIGATION FEE PROGRAM RESOLUTIONS AUTHORIZING CONTINUED PARTICIPATION AND ADOPTION OF A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The County of San Diego created the Fire Mitigation Fee (FMF) program following the adoption of an ordinance by the County Board of Supervisors on December 11, 1985 (11). The purpose of the program is to collect and allocate funds to participating fire agencies in the unincorporated area of San Diego County, including the San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD), for facility and equipment improvements to serve new development. In addition to SDCFPD, the program allows other fire agencies, lacking legal authority to directly impose and collect mitigation fees, to provide long-term capital facilities and equipment for fire suppression or emergency medical services, including station construction, station expansion or improvements, and fire or emergency medical apparatus to serve new development in their districts.
To participate in the FMF Program, SDCFPD must adopt two resolutions on an annual basis to authorize continued participation and identify the percentage of the maximum fee for collection and adopt a Capital Improvement Plan identifying the future use of FMF revenue. The SDCFPD Capital Improvement Plan proposes to allocate FMF revenues to support fire facility projects identified in the Capital Improvement Needs Assessment (CINA) and fire service vehicles in accordance with the County Fire Fleet Plan. The proposed Fire Mitigation Fee Program Fee schedule reflects the Los Angeles Construction Cost Index annual cost escalator of 3.6% for Fiscal Year 2026-27 in accordance with the County’s FMF Ordinance (SEC. 810.301).
Today’s actions request approval of the annual Participation and Capital Improvement Plan Resolutions to allow the SDCFPD to continue to receive mitigation fees to support new development in the district.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
1. Adopt the Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO FIRE MITIGATION FEE PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-27
2. Adopt the Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT TO ADOPT A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THE USE OF FIRE MITIGATION FEE REVENUE
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD) serves an under resourced and geographically diverse portion of the County’s unincorporated area where many communities experience limited access to critical public safety infrastructure. These areas are designated as high or very high fire hazard severity zones and include populations that are at risk, low income or socially vulnerable. Revenue collected through the Fire Mitigation Fee program is critical to maintaining equitable service delivery by providing funding for capital improvement investments, including fire stations and equipment, to support growing communities and increased demands for services in the SDCFPD. These investments directly enhance response capabilities and service delivery to ensure residents receive fire protection and emergency medical services that are equitable to those provided by incorporated city departments.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed actions in today’s request support the County of San Diego’s Sustainability goals to provide just and equitable access to services by ensuring communities across the SDCFPD can address future needs for fire protection and emergency medical services.
FISCAL IMPACT
If approved, the San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD) will continue to participate in the County’s Fire Mitigation Fee (FMF) Program and will use funds collected for capital improvement projects and equipment purchases within the boundaries of the SDCFPD. In Fiscal Year 2026-27, the FMF program is anticipated to generate approximately $2,000,000 in revenue. Costs for equipment purchases and facility improvements will be included as needed in future Operational Plans for San Diego County Fire. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years will be required.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
On March 2, 2026, with seven advisory board members being present, the San Diego County Fire Protection District Fire Advisory Board received an update on the County’s Fire Mitigation Fee (FMF) Program and voted unanimously in support of adoption of the continued participation and capital improvement plan resolutions.
BACKGROUND
The Mitigation Fee Act (California Government Code sections 66000, et seq.) provides authority for local governments to impose fees to offset the impacts of development projects on public facilities or services. The statute regulates how public agencies may collect, maintain, and spend development impact fees, including reporting requirements.
On December 11, 1985 (11), pursuant to its authority under the Mitigation Fee Act, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted the Fire Mitigation Fee (FMF) Ordinance to collect building permit fees and allocate funds to participating fire agencies. These funds allow the San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD) and the other eleven fire agencies in the unincorporated region to provide capital facilities and equipment for fire suppression or emergency medical services, including station construction, station expansion or improvements, and fire or emergency medical apparatus to serve new developments in their districts. On May 23, 2023 (1), the Board implemented changes to the Fire Mitigation Fee ordinance to meet the new requirements of AB 602 which includes completion of a nexus study. The nexus study was completed in 2023 and is required to be updated every eight years to ensure that the mitigation fees collected can support future fire protection needs of the district.
The proposed FY 2026-27 fee schedule lists Fire Mitigation Fees by building type for SDCFPD and reflects the automatic cost escalator of 3.6% based on the annual Los Angeles Construction Cost Index (LACC Index) for the previous 12-month period (October to October) in accordance with the County’s FMF Ordinance (SEC. 810.301). The FY 2026-27 fee schedule will be provided to County Planning & Development Services (PDS) for use beginning July1, 2026. PDS collects the FMF from applicants when building permits are issued based on building type and rate per square foot, then distributes the funds quarterly to SDCFPD and respective fire agencies participating in the program.
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SDCFPD - FIRE MITIGATION FEE RATES |
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FY |
RESIDENTIAL |
COMMERCIAL/ RETAIL |
HOTEL |
INDUSTRIAL |
MEDICAL |
OFFICE |
AGRICULTURE |
|
2025-26 |
$3.08 |
$2.68 |
$1.44 |
$2.12 |
$5.03 |
$10.07 |
$0.09 |
|
2026-27 |
$3.19 |
$2.78 |
$1.49 |
$2.20 |
$5.22 |
$10.43 |
$0.09 |
|
FY26-27 LACC Index: 3.6% Rate is cost per square foot |
The County’s FMF Ordinance (SEC. 810.301) requires SDCFPD to submit two resolutions annually to the Board of Directors:
• Participation Resolution: SDCFPD must certify the agency’s need for a fee, request that the County collect the fee on the agency’s behalf and agree that fee proceeds will be used only for capital facilities and equipment to address new development (Attachment A).
• Capital Improvement Plan: SDCFPD must specify the actions it intends to take to alleviate capital facility, and equipment needs resulting from new development in a five-year facilities and equipment plan (Attachment B) in the SDCFPD region.
SDCFPD is requesting to collect the fee per rate for each building type from building permit applicants within the SDCFPD’s boundaries. The Capital Improvement Plan proposes to allocate FMF revenues and balances in the fund over the next five years to support fire facility projects identified in the Capital Improvement Needs Assessment and fire service vehicles in accordance with the County Fire Fleet Plan.
Today’s proposed resolutions will authorize the SDCFPD for continued participation in the County’s FMF Program and approve a five-year Capital Improvement Plan.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
N/A
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the Community Initiative of the County of San Diego’s 2026-2031 Strategic Plan by ensuring that adequate fire and emergency medical services are included in new residential and commercial development, to improve community safety and resiliency.
Respectfully submitted,
ebony n. shelton
Executive Director
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO FIRE MITIGATION FEE PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-27
Attachment B - A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT TO ADOPT A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THE USE OF FIRE MITIGATION FEE REVENUE
Attachment C - NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING