Sen. Dodd: Defensible Space Inspection Bill Advances

SACRAMENTO –Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced today that his legislation to encourage creation of defensible space, protecting life and property from California’s worsening wildfires, has cleared a key committee.

“Maintaining defensible space is critical for reducing the chances that homes ignite when wildfires are nearby,” Sen. Dodd said. “It also minimizes the opportunity for fires to spread to other homes, thereby helping to protect communities. This bill will measure how well we are doing that and help us make informed decisions on where to target investments. It builds on my recent legislation to help protect our state.”

In a report last fall, the state Legislative Analyst’s Office cited the creation of defensible spaces around homes and other structures as among the most valuable steps that can be taken to reduce the destructiveness of wildfires. Under existing law, homeowners in certain areas are required to create these fire-safe spaces. However, because of a number of factors, compliance and inspections are inconsistent from region to region, the LAO found.

Senate Bill 896 responds to the agency’s recommendations for increasing compliance and reducing future losses. It includes provisions to gather more information on defensible space inspections through improved data collection and to take initial steps to address other barriers to state and local defensible space efforts. It also supports additional research to identify effective strategies to improve defensible space compliance and to conduct oversight activities to learn from and inform future policy decisions.

Defensible space has been a high priority wildfire protection issue for Sen. Dodd for several years, beginning in 2019 with his authorship of SB 190 which directed the state fire marshal to develop model defensive space standards that local governments could voluntarily use as part of their zoning codes. 

SB 896 cleared the Senate Natural Resources and Water committee Tuesday. It heads next to Appropriations.

“Defensible space is a critical component in a Californian’s wildfire protection toolbox,” said Yana Valachovic, forest advisor and county director for the University of California Cooperative Extension-Humboldt and Del Norte counties. “This bill provides a way to help chart our progress towards achieving wildfire resiliency. Additionally, the reporting database will help us understand which communities may need a little extra help and support.”  

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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. You can learn more about the district and Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.