HomeMy WebLinkAboutFD Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps Ordinance AdoptionSUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 2047
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN
RAFAEL TO DESIGNATE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES IN LOCAL
RESPONSIBILITY AREAS.
This Summary concerns a proposed ordinance of the City of San Rafael,
designated as Ordinance No. 2047, which will designate Fire Hazard Severity Zones
(FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Area (LRA). Ordinance No. 2047 is scheduled for
adoption by the San Rafael City Council at its regular meeting of May 19, 2025. The
City Clerk has been directed to publish this Summary pursuant to City Charter and
California Government Code section 36933(c)(1).
SUMMARY OF AMENDMENT TO MUNICIPAL CODE
Ordinance No. 2047 will designate Fire Hazard Severity Zones in San Rafael as
identified by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The zones are
classified as moderate, high, or very high, and have been determined by a model that
incorporates factors including vegetation, fire history, flame length, blowing embers,
topography, and climate. San Rafael has no areas identified as very high fire severity,
and staff has not requested changes to the map. Adoption of the FHSZ maps will help
promote public safety, support land use planning, and align with state wildfire resilience
initiatives. The LRA maps for Marin County were released on February 24, 2025 and the
City has 120 days to adopt the map.
Copies of Ordinance No. 2047 are available for public review on the City’s
website: https://www.cityofsanrafael.org. You may also contact the City Clerk at (415)
485-3066 for information.
________________________________
LINDSAY LARA
San Rafael City Clerk
Dated: 5/9/2025
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ORDINANCE NO. 2047
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL TO DESIGNATE FIRE HAZARD
SEVERITY ZONES IN LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREAS.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code 51178, the State Fire Marshal shall identify
areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on
consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to
prevail in those areas.
WHEREAS, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on
fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors including areas where winds
have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire
spread.
WHEREAS, Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) are in incorporated cities, urban regions,
agricultural lands, and portions of the desert where the local government is responsible
for wildfire protection. This is typically provided by city departments, fire protection
districts, counties, and by CALFIRE under contract.
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael recognizes the increasing threat of wildfires to life,
property, and natural resources, particularly in areas where urban development intersects
with wildland vegetation; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of San Rafael previously adopted the 38-point Wildfire
Prevention and Protection Action Plan, a comprehensive framework for wildfire mitigation
that includes actions such as community education, defensible space enforcement, fuel
reduction, and infrastructure hardening; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has adopted Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building
standards that strengthen new construction and retrofits within identified fire hazard areas
to improve structural resilience and reduce ignition risks; and
WHEREAS, the City continues to implement progressive Vegetation Management
Standards through its fire prevention codes, including regulations on defensible space,
hazardous vegetation removal, and maintenance of landscape materials to reduce fire
fuel loads; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 51179, the City is required to
designate by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones in its
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jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal
pursuant to Government Code Section 51178; and
WHEREAS, the designation of Fire Hazard Severity Zones supports San Rafael's long-
term strategic efforts to protect public safety, guide appropriate land use planning, and
align local actions with state wildfire resilience initiatives.
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL DOES
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES
1. The City hereby designates the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as recommended by
the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government
Code Section 51178.
2. The map approved by the City, is hereby incorporated by reference, and entitled
“City of San Rafael LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones.”
3. The official map is located electronically with the City of San Rafael at
www.SRFD.org
SECTION 2. SEVERABILITY
Every section, paragraph, clause, and phrase of this Ordinance is hereby declared to be
severable. If for any reason, any section, paragraph, clause, or phrase is held to be invalid
or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or
constitutionality of the remaining sections, paragraphs, clauses or phrases, and the
remaining portions or this Ordinance shall continue in full force and effect unless
amended or modified by the City.
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE AND PUBLICATION
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 30 days after its adoption. 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. Within fifteen (15) days after adoption, the City Clerk
shall also post in the office of the City Clerk, a certified copy of the full text of this
Ordinance along with the names of those Councilmembers voting for and against the
Ordinance.
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THE FOREGOING ORDINANCE was first read and introduced at a regular meeting of
the San Rafael City Council on the 5th day of May 2025, and was passed and adopted at
a regular meeting of the San Rafael City Council on the 19th of May 2025, by the following
vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
_____________________
Kate Colin, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________
Lindsay Lara, City Clerk