VENTURA, Calif. โ On Tuesday, October 21, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution urging state leaders to revise Californiaโs draft ember-resistant Zone 0 regulations and amend Assembly Bill 3074 to provide increased local control, secure funding, and allow for regionally adaptable implementation.
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The resolution comes in response to growing concern over proposed state defensible space rules. The Board expressed concerns that the rules could result in significant costs for homeowners and local governments without addressing local needs.
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โWildfire prevention is a top priority for Ventura County, but one-size-fits-all rules donโt work,โ said District 4 Supervisor Janice Parvin, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. โWe need solutions that are both effective and realistic for our communities. This resolution shows our commitment to keeping residents safe without putting an unfair burden on them.โ
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The stateโs draft Zone 0 regulations would require all combustible materials, such as plants, mulch or wood fencing, to be removed from within five feet of homes in designated high fire-risk areas. While intended to improve wildfire safety, County officials say the rules lack community input, do not account for regional differences, and could impose unfunded mandates on local agencies.
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โWe all want safer communities and stronger wildfire protections,โ said 2nd District Supervisor Jeff Gorell, Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors. โHowever, state regulations must reflect the real-world challenges our residents face. When Sacramento sets blanket rules without funding or flexibility, it shifts the burden to local governments and homeowners โ and thatโs not sustainable.โ
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As drafted, the regulations require Ventura County fire agencies to inspect an estimated 60,000 additional parcels without any dedicated support from the state.
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The County aims to urge state leaders to revise the regulations by restoring local discretion under California Code Section 1299.05. This would allow local fire experts to approve alternative, effective practices based on geography, ecology and architecture. It also calls for dedicated state funding to support inspections, homeowner education and public outreach.
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In their action, the Board of Supervisors recommends that new rules be implemented using phased timelines tailored to each communityโs capacity. It also calls for local agencies to have more say in how trees and plants are managed within defensible space zones. Additionally, it was recommended that community input be included as part of the regulatory process.
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โWhile I do support Zone 0, I want it to be achievableโ said Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner. โBased on current estimates, it would cost the County about $2 million annually to implement and would take nearly 10 years to bring all existing dwellings into compliance. There are no bad actors here, but we want these regulations to be practical. As written, these rules will limit our ability to apply common-sense solutions that work for Ventura County. What makes sense here is often very different from a statewide model designed to cover San Diego to Lake Tahoe.โ
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This action follows Governor Gavin Newsomโs signing earlier this month of AB 1455 and AB 888, two bills intended to strengthen defensible space standards and provide grant funds to help meet these requirements. While the Board of Supervisors supports the intent of the bills, they noted that the new laws do not go far enough to address operational and financial challenges at the local level.
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The resolution will be sent to the Governor, the State Fire Marshal, the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, Ventura Countyโs legislative delegation and the California State Association of Counties.
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For updates or more information on Ventura Countyโs wildfire safety efforts, visit venturacounty.gov.
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