DATE:
October 5, 2021 and October 19, 2021
05
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE DEFENSIBLE SPACE FOR FIRE PROTECTION ORDINANCE AND RECEIPT OF MEMORANDUM CLARIFYING SECTION 68.404 (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The County of San Diego (County) is no stranger to the risk and long-term effects of large-scale wildfires. Following significant local wildfires in 2003 and 2007, the County adopted several local building and fire code amendments that exceed state requirements to increase fire safety and wildfire prevention within the region. These requirements apply concurrently alongside the County's Defensible Space for Fire Protection Ordinance, which was adopted in its current form on May 10, 2011 (9).
Defensible Space is an area where materials that will readily ignite, burn, and transmit fire have been treated, cleared, or modified to slow the rate and intensity of an advancing wildfire and to create an area for fire suppression operations to occur. Creating defensible space around structures in the unincorporated area can save lives and property. Several state and local codes address the requirements for defensible space, including the California Public Resources Code, County Consolidated Fire Code, and Defensible Space for Fire Protection Ordinance. On July 13, 2021 (1), the Board of Supervisors (Board) directed the Chief Administrative Officer to continue stakeholder outreach and return to the Board with a proposal to amend the Defensible Space for Fire Protection Ordinance to align with the County Consolidated Fire Code. The proposed amendments in today's action are meant to align these codes to increase the safety of residents during a wildfire and improve the survivability of homes, other structures, and critical infrastructure.
Today's requested actions are for the Board of Supervisors to find that the proposed actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), approv...
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