HomeMy WebLinkAboutFD Amendment to San Rafael's Building Code to Require Replacement of Wood Roofing____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: May 16, 2022
Disposition: Final adoption of Ordinance 2009
Agenda Item No: 7.a
Meeting Date: May 16, 2022
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Fire
Prepared by: Quinn Gardner, Deputy Director of
Emergency Services and Mary Skramstad,
Wildfire Mitigation Project Manager
City Manager Approval: ______________
TOPIC: AMENDMENT TO SAN RAFAEL’S BUILDING CODE TO REQUIRE REPLACEMENT
OF WOOD ROOFING
SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTERS 12.200 AND 12.255 OF THE
SAN RAFAEL MUNICIPAL CODE TO MAKE LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO CALIFORNIA
BUILDING CODES TO REQUIRE THAT WOOD ROOFING BE REPLACED BY MAY 31,
2027
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Ordinance Amending Chapters 12.200 and 12.255 of the San Rafael Municipal Code to Make
Local Amendments to California Building Codes to Require that Wood Roofing be Replaced by May 31,
2027.
BACKGROUND:
Following decades of research, post-fire analysis, and active suppression efforts, the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has identified a two-prong approach to reduce the likelihood
of building loss or damage due to wildfire. This approach includes reducing risk through landscape
changes, commonly called defensible space, and through changes to structures themselves, or what is
commonly called home hardening. Many of these strategies are now required for new construction in the
Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) or other similar high fire hazard areas. However, few regulations address
the built-out environment, which encompasses the vast majority of San Rafael. The City has made great
strides in addressing defensible space through the updates to San Rafael Municipal Code (“SRMC”)
Chapter 4.12 as approved by the City Council on August 3, 2020. However, as called for in the San
Rafael Wildfire Prevention and Protection Action Plan (Wildfire Action Plan), items 17 and 18, additional
efforts are needed to address home hardening.
Item 18 in the Wildfire Action Plan calls for the elimination of the fire hazard associated with wooden
roofs. According to the National Board of Fire Underwriters, the roof is the most common structural fuel
bed for ignition by firebrands or embers on a structure. For this reason, materials used to construct a roof
are of great importance to protecting the home and other structures from wildfire.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
Wooden shingle roofs were identified as the main factor that made fire worse in the official reports of the
1923 Berkeley Fire (National Board of Fire Underwriters 1923; Wilson 1962; Office of the City Manager
1991) and the 1961 Bel-Aire fire; the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) report of the 1961 Bel-
Aire Fire was entitled ‘Devil wind and wood shingles’ (Wilson 1962).
Wood roofs pose a hazard to the structure itself, but also to nearby structures and firefighters. Burning
wood roofing material can peel off, become firebrands, and be carried into additional receptive fuel beds,
such as other combustible roofs and flammable vegetation in the surrounding landscape, further
exacerbating the spread of wildfire. Firebrands consisting of burning wood roof covering have been a
major contributing factor to numerous fires such as the 1923 Berkeley Fire. In the 1961 Bel-Air Fire, the
aero-dynamic firebrands made of wooden roof shingles became long range fire starters when they were
carried by the upper strata of the Santa Ana winds. New fires were ignited in the brush and among
structures at great distances, at times spanning two or three canyons (Wilson 1962).
As a result of the increased risk, the State of California banned the use of wood roofs for new construction
in 2001. However, to date, no state legislation has required the replacement of existing wood roofs. Some
cities pre-empted state action by banning wood roofs for both new construction and reroofs; City of Los
Angeles, Santa Barbara County, City of Santa Barbara, Carlsbad, Del Mar, El Cajon, and Vista. In 2008,
the City Council in Big Bear Lake, a community of 5,200 in San Bernardino County, passed an ordinance
declaring wood roofs "a severe fire hazard and danger" and ordered property owners to replace them by
2012.
Recent fires have demonstrated the importance of roofing material and other home hardening strategies.
For example, in the 2019 Camp Fire, about 51 percent of the 350 single-family homes built after 2008 in
the path of the fire were undamaged, according to an analysis of Cal Fire data and Butte County property
records. By contrast, only 18 percent of the 12,100 homes built prior to 2008 escaped damage. However,
since San Rafael is a largely built-out environment, replacement roofing material requirements will be
needed to adapt to wildfire.
The San Rafael Municipal Code, largely aligned with State Fire and Building Code, acknowledges the
importance of appropriately fire adapted or Class A rated roofing material. The existing requirements only
apply to new construction or substantial remodel. While they acknowledge the importance of fire-rated
roofing, they do not require action on existing structures. Pursuant to amended California Building Code
Section 1505.1.3 set forth in SRMC Section 12.200.020 and California Residential Code Section
R902.1.3 set forth in SRMC Section 12.255.020, the City Council declared that all roof coverings in the
City shall be Class A roof covering in 2019. A summary of the existing code is summarized in the table
below:
Municipal Code Text
Article III Powers of
the City Charter
Article 111, Section
25
Under powers of the City, the City has the power to take precautions
against fires and to make provisions to guard against fires.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3
Chapter 12.116
UNSAFE
STRUCTURES AND
EQUIPMENT
Structures or existing equipment that are or hereafter become
unsafe and which constitute a fire hazard or are otherwise
dangerous to human life or the public welfare shall be deemed an
unsafe condition.
Chapter 12.255 -
CALIFORNIA
RESIDENTIAL
CODE
AMENDMENTS
R902.1.3 The entire roof covering of every existing structure within
the City of San Rafael, where more than 50% of the total roof area
is replaced within any one-year period, the entire roof covering of
every new structure, and any roof covering applied in the alteration,
repair or replacement of the roof of every existing structure, shall be
a fire-retardant roof covering that is at least Class A and shall also
comply with Section R337.5.
R902.1.4 Roofing requirements in a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire
Area. Roofing requirements" for structures located in a Wildland-
Urban Interface Fire Area shall be a fire-retardant roof covering that
is least class A and shall also comply with Section R337.5.
Chapter 12.200 –
CALIFORNIA
BUILDING CODE
AMENDMENTS
1505.1.3 Roof coverings within all other areas. The entire roof
covering of every existing structure, where more than 50% of the
total roof area is replaced within any one-year period, the entire
roof covering of every new structure, and any roof covering applied
in the alteration, repair or replacement of the roof of every existing
structure, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering that is at least
Class A.
ANALYSIS:
For property owners with wood roofs, the most long-term and reliable measure available to reduce roof
vulnerability to wildfire is to reroof with Class A fire resistant materials. Class A is the highest rating,
offering the highest resistance to fire. Spray-on or brush-on treatments of fire-retardant chemical to wood
roofs have limited longevity. Soon after application, these treatments begin to lose their fire-resistant
characteristics due to leaching and exposure to sunlight. To be effective, these treatments must be
reapplied on a regular basis. Generally, these treatments have not received certification from the
Underwriters Laboratories or the State Fire Marshals of California. Overall, fires involving wood roofs,
more so than other roofs, present certain challenges because the fire can easily run both across the top
of the roof and underneath it. This is a significant consideration when performing fire attack in buildings
with wood roofs.
When wood roofing materials were first available with fire retardant coatings, they were rated as a Class
C covering. Before that, they were non-rated. Pressure treated wood roof materials receive a Class A
rating only when installed with a solid underlayment. Fire protection is provided by pressure impregnating
fire retardant polymers into the innermost cells of the material. However, there are no required inspections
or tests after installation of roofs to determine the status of the fire retardant. It would also be difficult to
tell when, or if, a roof was pressure treated or has lost its original treatment by inspection. The California
Building Code specifies the testing wood shakes and shingles must pass for use in California. These
tests include: Intermittent Flame Test; Spread of Flame Test; Burning Brand Test; Flying Brand Test;
Rain Test; and Weathering Test.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 4
In the Chemco FTX Five Year Natural Weathering Test, the wood shingles ignited three minutes into the
test and burned for an additional 23 minutes and 30 seconds after the burner flame was turned off. The
results of that test and the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Standard No. 43 Test for Determining the
Flammability of Solid Materials demonstrated that the fire-retardant pressure treated wood shingles
support combustion. The five-year test proved that treated wood shingles ignite and continue to burn long
after flame exposure. Los Angeles Fire Department adds “It is our experience that a material that exhibits
that type of burning characteristics combined with our local climactic conditions (high wind velocities, low
humidity, and high temperatures) has the potential for spreading fire downwind in the form of flying
burning brands”.
The Wood Shake and Shingle Roof Hazard, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
According to the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension report on Wood Shake and Shingle Roof
Hazard, the probability of a house surviving a wildfire is greatly influenced by the type of roofing material
involved and the amount of clearance of flammable vegetation. An investigation of 1,850 Southern
California homes found that depending upon the amount of brush clearance, houses with untreated wood
roofs were 2 to 21 times more likely to be destroyed by wildfire than those with fire-resistant roofs. Other
wildfire statistics collected from the Santa Monica Mountains of California, suggested that the most cost-
effective method of increasing house survivability during a wildfire event is the presence of a fire-resistant
roof and property clearance of vegetation around the structure.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 5
The proposed ordinance will eliminate a known threat to structures and the public by requiring that all
roof coverings in the City limits that are not at least Class A, shall be replaced with a fire-retardant roof
covering that is Class A by May 31, 2027, thus decreasing potential ignition and the rate and intensity of
the spread of fire. Roof material is a critical component to a wildfire-hardened structure. Removing wood
roofing materials will increase safety for firefighters and first responders, as well as the neighboring
community. Per the 2016 Marin County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), “homes with a non-
combustible roof and defensible space at least 30 to 60 feet around the structure have an 85-95% chance
of survival”.
Based on area surveys, staff believe less than 200 wood roofs, most at least 20 years old, are in San
Rafael. The average wood roof has a life span of 30 years. For example, according to a recent informal
survey by the City’s Building Department, on San Marino Drive, three out of 88 homes have wood roofs;
on Bay Way three out 28 homes have wood roofs; and on Latham Street and San Rafael Avenue both,
one out of 23 homes has a wood roof. This ordinance will effectively result in the near-complete
elimination of wood roofs from San Rafael by May 31, 2027. Staff will continue to search for financial
incentives and assistance for residents replacing wood roofs. At this time, the following financing options
and incentives are available:
Loan options
Name Type Caveats Max $
FHA's Limited
203(k) program
Finance into
their mortgage
The total value of the property must still fall within
the FHA mortgage limit for the area.
$5,000
to
$35,000
Marin housing Rehab Loan Principal residence; Income limits; 5% interest $35,000
GoGreen Financing
California Coast
Credit Union
Energy
Financing
Must also be considered an energy upgrade;
minimum credit score is 600. Interest is 3-7%
$50,000
Matadors
Community Credit
Union
Energy
Financing
Must also be considered an energy upgrade;
minimum credit score is 580. Interest is 4.5 to 6%
$50,000
Credit/Reimbursements
Name Type Process Amount
Incentives for Energy Efficiency FederalTax credit extension/renewal is still pending
approval by Congress
$500
MWPA Grant Reimbursement Application $1,000
City of San Rafael Grant Reimbursement Application $1,000
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 6
Several plans approved by the City of San Rafael have touched on the measures necessary to protect
property from wildfire. The San Rafael Local Hazard Mitigation Plan calls out measures for property
protection including wildfires. The San Rafael Wildfire Prevention and Protection Action Plan, passed in
August 2020, outlines various goals to proactively and aggressively address the growing risks associated
with wildfire. The primary objective of the plan includes ordinance changes to mitigate wildfire risk
The table below summarizes the recommendations regarding wooden roofs in various plans:
Plan Details
San Rafael C-18 Local
Hazard Mitigation Plan
PROPERTY PROTECTION: Property protection measures are used to
modify buildings subject to damage rather than to keep the hazard away. A
community may find these to be inexpensive measures because often they
are implemented by or cost-shared with property owners. Many of the
measures do not affect the appearance or use of a building, which makes
them particularly appropriate for historical sites and landmarks. Wildfire,
Grassfires;
• Replacing building components with fireproof materials
• Roofing
San Rafael Wildfire
Prevention and
Protection Action Plan
Section 18 titled Eliminate fire hazard associated with wooden roofs. Action:
Ordinance change. Update building code to require all wood roofs be
replaced in five years. Require structures with wood roofs disclose the
replacement requirement at time of resale.
Marin County
Community Wildfire
Protection Plan
Under page 82 subsection ‘Ignition-Resistant Roofing to Reduce Structural
Ignitability’, Marin County urges other fire agencies throughout Marin to
consider providing incentives for property owners to replace wood roofs.
Marin County Multi-
Jurisdictional Local
Hazard Mitigation Plan
Novato proposes to develop an inventory of structures with wood roofing
material to identify and target education efforts and the need for roof
conversions. The purpose of the Building and Housing code is to establish
rules and regulations governing building activity in the city and to safeguard
life, health, property, and public welfare by providing minimum fire retardancy
requirements for new roof coverings. This information is also needed to assist
the city in compiling information on the use, location, and condition of
properties within the jurisdiction of the City of Novato and provides for the
abatement of unsafe buildings. By agreement, for health and safety reasons,
the city may share this information or resultant vital statistics with other
governmental agencies.
San Rafael General
Plan Safety and
Resilience Element
Policy S-4.2 Fire
Resilience in
Developed Areas
Reduction of Structure Hazards. Implement measures to reduce wildfire
hazards to existing structures, including fire-resistant landscaping, and
building materials, protected vents and gutters, phasing out wood roofs,
vegetation management around structures, limits on highly flammable plant
materials, restricted parking on narrow streets, and enforcement and
abatement programs. Focus on measures that provide the greatest fire safety
benefits relative to their costs to the City and private sector.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 7
COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Two community meetings regarding the proposed ordinance changes were
held on March 16, 2022, and April 7, 2022. City Council heard a brief presentation and set the public
hearing on May 2, 2022 and did not receive public feedback.
Prior to and during implementation of this ordinance amendment, staff will conduct direct outreach with
properties affected.
FISCAL IMPACT: There are no anticipated impacts to the General Fund.
OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter:
1. Adopt the ordinance as recommended by staff.
2. Modify the ordinance and continue to future meeting for adoption.
3. Direct staff to return with more information.
4. Take no action.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1. Adopt Ordinance Amending Chapters 12.200 and 12.255 of the San Rafael Municipal Code to
Make Local Amendments to California Building Codes to Require that Wood Roofing be Replaced
by May 31, 2027.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance
Page 1 of 4
ORDINANCE NO. 2009
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
AMENDING CHAPTERS 12.200 AND 12.255 OF THE SAN RAFAEL
MUNICIPAL CODE TO MAKE LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO CALIFORNIA
BUILDING CODES TO REQUIRE THAT WOOD ROOFING BE REPLACED
BY MAY 31, 2027
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
DIVISION 1. FINDINGS.
WHEREAS, on November 18, 2019, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1974
which amended Title 12 of the San Rafael Municipal Code to adopt by reference the 2019
California Building Code, 2019 California Residential Code, the 2019 California
Mechanical Code, the 2019 California Plumbing Code, the 2019 California Electrical Code,
the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code, the 2018 International Pool and Spa
Code, the 2019 California Existing Building Code, the 2019 California Green Building
Standards Code, and the California Referenced Standard Code with appendices
(together, the “2019 California Construction Codes”); and
WHEREAS, Sections 17958.5, 17958.7, and 18941.5 of the California Health and
Safety Code allow a local governing body to modify state building standards and to establish
more restrictive standards if it determines such building standards are reasonably necessary
because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions, and pursuant to that statute
Ordinance No. 1974 included certain local amendments to the 2019 California Construction
Codes adopted by that Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the local amendments to the 2019 California Building Code adopted by
Ordinance No. 1974 were codified in Section 12.200.020 of Chapter 12.200 of the San Rafael
Municipal Code and included an amendment to Section 1505.1.3 of the California Building
Code entitled “Roof coverings within all other areas”; and
WHEREAS, the local amendments to the 2019 California Residential Code adopted
by Ordinance No. 1974 were codified in Section 12.255.020 of Chapter 12.255 of the San
Rafael Municipal Code and included an amendment to Section R902.1.3 of the California
Residential Code, entitled “Roof coverings within all other areas”; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has a Community Wildfire Protection Plan
(CWPP) issued in 2016, developed in collaboration with the County of Marin, which
recommends as a pre-disaster mitigation “the removal of existing wood roofs” due to data
that supports non-flammable roofing as being 3.68 times more effective at preventing
structural ignition in wildland fire situations; and
WHEREAS, on August 3, 2020 the City Council adopted Resolution No. 14847
accepting a final “San Rafael Wildfire Prevention and Protection Action Plan”, Section 18 of
which calls for a change to the City’s building code to require all wood roofs to be replaced
within five years to mitigate wildfire risk, and sets forth the rationale for the change; and
WHEREAS, wood roofs are comprised of materials that create a unique and
significant fire hazard and danger to an extent that they constitute a public nuisance, as set
forth by Section 3480 of the California Civil Code, because they are injurious to the health
Page 2 of 4
and safety of and substantially endanger entire communities; and
WHEREAS, wood roofs are a severe fire hazard and danger to the lives, health,
property and safety of the residents of the City of San Rafael and the surrounding
communities; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to amend the San Rafael Municipal Code to
address these dangers to the citizens of San Rafael and the surrounding community; and
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby finds and declares that five (5) years is a
reasonable amount of time for all existing buildings or structures within the City of San Rafael
with wood roofs to install roofs comprised of class A fire-resistant as required by the
regulations adopted by this Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the local amendments to the 2019 California
Construction Codes, as set forth in this Ordinance, are reasonably necessary because of
climatic, geological and topographical conditions existing in the City, including strong wind
conditions, dry weather and dry vegetation, that contribute to the loss or damage of open
space and structures in the surrounding area resulting from wildfires;
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL DOES
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
DIVISION 2. AMENDMENT OF MUNICIPAL CODE.
Chapter 12.200 of the San Rafael Municipal Code entitled “California Building Code
Amendments” is hereby amended as follows: The amendment to California Building Code
Section 1505.1.3 contained in San Rafael Municipal Code Section 12.200.020 is hereby
amended to read in its entirety as follows (strikeouts show deletions from California
Building Code and underlines show additions):
1505.1.3 Roof coverings within all other areas. The entire roof covering of every
existing structure, where more than 50% of the total roof area is replaced within any
one-year period, the entire roof covering of every new structure, and any roof
covering applied in the alteration, repair or replacement of the roof of every existing
structure, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering that is at least Class C A.
All roofs coverings that are not at least Class A, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering
that is at least Class A by May 31, 2027.
DIVISION 3. AMENDMENT OF MUNICIPAL CODE.
Chapter 12.255 of the San Rafael Municipal Code entitled “California Residential Code
Amendments” is hereby amended as follows: The amendment to California Residential
Code Section R902.1.3 contained in San Rafael Municipal Code Section 12.255.020 is
hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows (strikeouts show deletions from California
Residential Code and underlines show additions):
R902.1.3 Roof coverings within all other areas. The entire roof covering of every
existing structure, where more than 50% of the total roof area is replaced within any
one-year period, the entire roof covering of every new structure, and any roof
Page 3 of 4
covering applied in the alteration, repair or replacement of the roof of every existing
structure, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering that is at least Class C A and shall
also comply with Section R337.5.
All roofs coverings that are not at least Class A, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering
that is at least Class A by May 31, 2027.
DIVISION 4 FINDINGS.
California Health and Safety Code Sections 17958.5, 17958.7, and 18941.5 require that
findings be made in order to change or modify building standards found in the California
Building Standards Code based on local climatic, geologic, or topographic conditions.
Therefore, the San Rafael City Council hereby finds that these changes or modifications
to the California Building Code (“CBC”) as adopted in Chapter 12.200 of the San Rafael
Municipal Code; and the California Residential Code (“CRC”) as adopted in Chapter
12.255; are reasonably necessary because of the following local climatic, geological and
topographical conditions:
I. Climatic conditions:
a) Most of the annual rainfall in San Rafael occurs during the winter, it
receives no measurable precipitation between May and October. During
this time, temperatures average between 70 and 90 degrees. These
conditions eliminate most of the moisture in the natural vegetation and
heavily wooded hillsides. The area also suffers periodic droughts that can
extend the dry periods to other months of the year. These conditions can
be further exacerbated by occasional off-shore hot, dry, Santa-Ana winds;
all of which contribute to an elevated fire hazard.
II. Topographic conditions:
a) Much of San Rafael is located in hilly areas, and many of the residential
areas are heavily landscaped, and many exist adjacent to hilly open space
areas which are characterized by dry vegetation and have limited access.
In addition, the steepness of grades located in the hills and canyons results
in narrow and winding roads, and limited water supply, making timely
access, rescue and firefighting activities by emergency providers difficult.
More specifically, the above modified building standards are listed below with the
corresponding climatic, geological or topographical condition which necessitates the
modification.
CBC Section Number Climatic, geological and topographical condition
1505.1 I(a), II(a)
CRC Section Numbers
R902.1 I(a), II(a)
DIVISION 5. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA)
This Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant
to 14 CCR Section 15061(b)(3), since it can seen with certainty that there is no possibility
that the adoption of this Ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment. (14
Page 4 of 4
Cal. Code Regs. Section 15061(b)(3), ‘general rule’ provision) and pursuant to 14 CCR
Section 15301 (minor alterations to existing structures).
DIVISION 6 SEVERABILITY.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason
held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this
Ordinance. The City Council of the City of San Rafael hereby declares that it would have
adopted the Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase thereof,
irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or
phrases shall be declared invalid.
DIVISION 7. PUBLICATION; EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Ordinance shall be published once, in full or in summary form, before its final
passage, in a newspaper of general circulation, published, and circulated in the City of
San Rafael, and shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days after its final passage. If
published in summary form, the summary shall also be published within fifteen (15) days
after the adoption, together with the names of those Councilmembers voting for or against
same, in a newspaper of general circulation published and circulated in the City of San
Rafael, County of Marin, State of California.
KATE COLIN, Mayor
Attest:
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
The foregoing Ordinance No. 2009 was introduced at a Regular Meeting of the City Council
of the City of San Rafael, held on the 2nd day of May 2022, and ordered passed to print by
the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: None
and will come up for adoption as an Ordinance of the City of San Rafael at a Regular Meeting
of the Council to be held on the 16th day of May 2022.
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 2009
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
AMENDING CHAPTERS 12.200 AND 12.255 OF THE SAN RAFAEL MUNICIPAL
CODE TO MAKE LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODES
TO REQUIRE THAT WOOD ROOFING BE REPLACED BY MAY 31, 2027
This Summary concerns a proposed ordinance of the City Council of the City of
San Rafael, designated as Ordinance No. 2009, which will require the replacement of
wood roofs by May 31, 2027. Ordinance No. 2009 is scheduled for adoption by the San
Rafael City Council at its regular meeting of May 16, 2022. The City Clerk has been
directed to publish this Summary pursuant to City Charter and California Government
Code section 36933(c)(1).
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE
Ordinance No. 2009 amends Chapter 12.200 and 12.255 of the San Rafael City
Municipal Code to make local amendments to the California Building Code, establishing
the requirement to replace all roof coverings that are not at least Class A, by May 31,
2027. This will further safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare by requiring
minimum fire retardancy requirements for existing roof coverings. In addition, Ordinance
No. 2009 will require the replacement of wood roofs which are a severe fire hazard and
danger to the lives, health, property, and safety of the residents of the City of San Rafael
and the surrounding communities.
The City Council’s adoption of this ordinance allows San Rafael to build community
resilience through the prevention of structural ignition in wildland fire situations. For a
complete copy of the text of the Ordinance, please contact Wildfire Mitigation Project
Manager Mary Skramstad at (415-485-3025) or mary.skramstad@cityofsanrafafel.org.
Copies of the Ordinance are also available for public review by contacting the City Clerk’s
office by email to city.clerk@cityofsanrafael.org.
/s/ Lindsay Lara
LINDSAY LARA
San Rafael City Clerk
Dated: 04/20/2022