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Council introduces ordinance adopting state fire-hazard severity zones and authorizes inspection-fee authority
Summary
Saint Helena council introduced an ordinance to adopt the Office of the State Fire Marshal's fire hazard severity map for the city and authorized the city to recover inspection costs for property sales in high or very high hazard zones; council voted to introduce and waive reading of the ordinance.
The City Council on June 10 introduced and waived first reading of an ordinance adding Chapter 8.44 to the Saint Helena Municipal Code to adopt the state-recommended fire hazard severity zones and to authorize fees for inspections of properties sold in high or very high hazard zones.
Fire Chief Mark Sorensen told the council the Office of the State Fire Marshal released the fire hazard severity zone map in early 2025, assigning moderate, high and very high classifications using a science-based model that considers fire history, vegetation, slope and likely fire behavior. Sorensen and staff demonstrated the online map tool that allows residents to enter an address to see a structure's classification and said the map covers local responsibility areas (LRA) and state responsibility areas (SRA).
Chief Sorensen said the map's classifications may require disclosures at sale and, for new construction in high zones, adherence to wildland-urban interface standards in the California Building Code. He noted the state created the map under the direction of the state fire marshal and that local jurisdictions did not alter the underlying model.
The proposed municipal code chapter would adopt the fire hazard severity map for city purposes and would authorize the city to charge for inspections related to property sales in high and very-high zones to recover city costs; Sorensen and City Attorney Phil Walsh said the city has historically provided defensible-space inspections as a courtesy and the ordinance would permit cost recovery though no fee schedule had yet been adopted.
Councilmember Spatarotto asked whether certificates have an expiration; Sorensen said certificates are issued and insurance companies may set their own renewal expectations. Council approved introduction and waiver of the first reading on a roll-call vote: Spatarotto, Deasy, Barrick and Mayor Doreen voted yes.
The council and staff discussed public information steps, including linking the map on the city's website and advising residents about defensible-space requirements and the online address lookup tool. The ordinance will return for adoption at a subsequent meeting after staff prepares the formal text and a proposed fee schedule, if any.
