Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Disaster Readiness topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ventura County ordinance and state rules increase landlord duties after wildfires, attorney says
Summary
Felton told attendees Ventura County now requires seller fire-risk inspections before escrow closes in high fire zones (effective Jan. 2026) and summarized state-level rules (SB 610) obliging landlords to remediate fire damage before re-renting.
At the Housing Connection Series session, Jennifer Felton summarized local and state changes that affect property sellers and landlords after wildfire damage. She said Ventura County passed an ordinance making seller-conducted fire-safety inspections and required remediation mandatory before a sale can close in many high- or very-high fire zones; "That went into effect January 2026," she said. Felton recommended defensible-space measures, hardening roofs, vents and gutters, and documenting repairs to maintain insurability.
Felton also described a state statute (discussed in the session as "SB 610") that requires landlords to remediate properties damaged by natural disasters before re-renting; she urged owners to consult counsel for compliance and recordkeeping to avoid tenant damages claims and enforcement by agencies.
