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Half Moon Bay officials and residents weigh costs and controls as statemaps reclassify fire hazard zones
Summary
City staff and Coastside Fire described how updated state fire-hazard severity maps and proposed Zone 0 ember-resistance rules could require inspections, defensible-space work and building changes for properties in Very High hazard zones; residents urged caution about downtown tree and awning removals and asked for funding and phased implementation.
City and county officials and residents spent the Nov. 18 joint study session focused on newly issued state fire-hazard severity maps and the practical effect of impending "Zone 0" ember-resistance rules.
Todd Sealy, interim public works director, told the council and planning commission that the maps "evaluate hazard, not risk," and that they were developed under California Government Code section 51178 and Assembly Bill 3074. Sealy said the maps identify Very High, High and Moderate hazard areas and that changes could trigger inspections, building-code requirements and disclosure rules tied to Chapter 7A of the building code.
Why it matters: Staff and the Coastside Fire Protection District said implementation could have significant fiscal and landscape impacts. Sealy noted tree-removal estimates…
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