AGENDA REPORT
Meeting Date: July 15, 2025
Item Number:
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Gregory W. Barton, Fire Chief
Trevor Richmond, Fire Marshal
Subject: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES, AMENDING THE 2022
CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE, AND AMENDING TITLE 9 OF THE
BEVERLY HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt an ordinance entitled: “AN ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES, AMENDING THE 2022 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE, AND AMENDING TITLE 9 OF THE BEVERLY HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE” (Attachment 1). This ordinance adopts the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map presented by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) on March 24, 2025.
INTRODUCTION
In the mid 1990’s Assembly Bill 337 of 1992 (Bates Bill) was passed requiring the State of California and Local Government to identify areas the meet the criteria as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ). The Bates Bill, at Government Code Section 51175 was prompted by the devastating Oakland fire in 1991. This mid 1990’s legislation calls for the CAL FIRE Director to evaluate fire hazard severity in Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) and to make a recommendation to the local jurisdiction where Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones exist.
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Attachment: 1. Beverly Hills Fire Hazard Severity Zone City Ordinance
Meeting Date: July 15, 2025
On March 24th, 2025, CAL FIRE introduced the latest revision of the VHFHSZ maps and increased the border of the Very High Zone to extend below Sunset Boulevard. This new map captured approximately 324 additional parcels into the Very High Zone. These additional lots will require annual brush inspections every year to make sure that residents are compliant with defensible space requirements.
Prior to the adoption of the map, the local government is required by the State of California to solicit public input and answer questions regarding the proposed implementation of the map and the associated code enforcement requirements. On May 28th and June 9th, the fire department held public meetings to provide information and answer any questions related to map and its adoption. The June 9th meeting was televised by Beverly Hills Television. The scheduled meetings were posted in various community mediums and social media. On June 23rd the department presented before the Health and Safety Commission and answered questions from the commissioners in attendance.
DISCUSSION
CAL FIRE is continuing to process community feedback from local governments and is in the process of clearly defining what and how state fire codes will be enforced. The City of Beverly Hills is actively engaged in these ongoing discussions.
While, the City of Beverly Hills currently has a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone map on file designating the area north of Sunset, the proposed ordinance replaces the existing map with updated boundaries from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The new map has extended the boundary for the Very High Zone and added a High and Moderate Zone.
From the release date of the map, Assembly Bill 211 requires local government to adopt the map within 120 days. The bill would additionally authorize a local agency, at its discretion, to include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones, respectively. The bill would prohibit the local agency from decreasing the level of fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal for any area within the jurisdiction of the local agency.
All current code enforcement that has applied to all lots north of Sunset will now apply to approximately 324 additional lots south of Sunset. In the spirit of public education, the Beverly Hills Fire Department has chosen to utilize the time before the map is adopted by City Council to educate homeowners on the code requirements associated with being in the Very High Zone. After the adoption of the map by the City Council, the fire department will pursue an educational campaign to inform the residents that have found themselves within the newly developed fire zones.
Meeting Date: July 15, 2025
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
Gregory W. Barton,
Fire Chief
Approved By
ATTACHMENT 1
B0785-0001\3118564v2.doc
ORDINANCE NO. 25-O-_______
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS
DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES,
AMENDING THE 2022 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE, AND
AMENDING TITLE 9 OF THE BEVERLY HILLS
MUNICIPAL CODE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 9-2-2 of Chapter 2 of Title 9 is hereby amended by adding the following:
“Section 4904.2 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map. The City of Beverly Hills City Council hereby designates the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as recommended by the director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and as designated on the latest Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map, retained on file at the Office of the Fire Marshal, 445 North Rexford Drive.”
Section 2. The map titled Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones, March 24, 2025 is hereby attached to this Ordinance as Exhibit A.
Section 3. CEQA Findings. The City Council hereby finds that it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the adoption and implementation of this Ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment. The Ordinance does not authorize construction and, in fact, imposes greater restrictions on certain development in order to protect the public health, safety and general welfare. In addition, the adoption of this ordinance is a ministerial act. The Ordinance is therefore exempt from the environmental review requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations (CEQA Guidelines).
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B0785-0001\3118564v2.doc
Section 4. Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or place, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance, and each and every section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Section 5. Publication. The City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance to be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation published and circulated in the City within fifteen (15) days after its passage, in accordance with Section 39633 of the Government Code; shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance; and shall cause this Ordinance and its certification, together with proof of publication, to be entered in the Book of Ordinances of the Council of this City.
Section 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall go into effect and be in full force and effect at 12:01 a.m. on the thirty-first (31st) day after its passage.
Section 7. Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance.
Adopted:
Effective:
SHARONA R. NAZARIAN, PSYD
Mayor of the City of Beverly Hills,
California
ATTEST:
_________________________(SEAL)
HUMA AHMED
City Clerk
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B0785-0001\3118564v2.doc
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
___________________________ _____________________________ LAURENCE S. WIENER NANCY HUNT-COFFEY
City Attorney City Manager
______________________________
MICHAEL FORBES
Director of Community
Development
_____________________________
GREGORY BARTON
Fire Chief
B0785-0001\3118564v2.doc
EXHIBIT A - MAP