ORDINANCE NO. ___________
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFICA ADDING A NEW ARTICLE 3, “FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES” WITHIN CHAPTER 3, “FIRE PROTECTION” TO TITLE 4, “PUBLIC SAFETY” OF THE PACIFICA MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADOPT THE CITY
OF PACIFICA FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES MAP
WHEREAS, On February 24, 2025, CAL FIRE released the 2025 Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps. FHSZ areas within the City of Pacifica have been identified mostly as “Moderate” and “High” with some “Very High” within undeveloped areas; and WHEREAS, local governments are mandated under Government Code 51179 to adopt by ordinance the designated and established Moderate, High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones; and
WHEREAS, local government agencies are mandated under Government Code 51179 to transmit a copy of the ordinance to the Board of Forestry & Fire Protection within 30 days of adoption; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this ordinance is to comply with Government Code §51178, §51178.5, §51179 and California Code of Regulations §1280.02 by designation of Fire Hazard Severity Zones within the jurisdiction of the City of Pacifica; and WHEREAS, by so designating Fire Hazard Severity Zones, identified measures as contained in Government Code §51182 are intended to retard the rate of spread and reduce the potential intensity of uncontrolled fires that threaten to destroy life, property, and resources; and WHEREAS, the requirement of such measures provides for the protection of the public safety, health, property and welfare of the City of Pacifica for development in areas designated as Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Pacifica does ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. Recitals. The City Council of the City of Pacifica does hereby find that the above referenced recitals are true and correct and material to the adoption of this Ordinance.
SECTION 2. Amendment. Article 3, “Fire Hazard Severity Zones” within Chapter 3, “Fire Protection” to Title 4, “Public Safety” of the Pacifica Municipal Code is hereby added to read as follows:
“Article 3.- Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Sec. 4-3.301. Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the Local Responsibility Areas (a) The City of Pacifica hereby designates the Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the Local Responsibility Areas as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code §51178 as set forth in the map approved by the City of Pacifica, hereby incorporated by reference, and entitled “City of Pacifica Fire Hazard Severity Zones”.
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City and County boundaries as of 10/22/24 (CA Board of Equalization) CAL FIRE State Responsibility Areas (SRA25_1)
CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZSRA23_3, FHSZLRA_25_1) Data Sources:
Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Joe Tyler, Director/Fire Chief, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources, CA Natural Resources Agency The State of California and the Department of Forestry and Fire Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of California Protection make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy of data or maps. Neither the State nor the Department shall be liable under any circumstances for any direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or third party on account of, or arising from, the use of data or maps. and other relevant factors including areas where winds
have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread.
statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, Government Code section 51178 requires the State Fire
Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent Waterbody
Federal Responsibility
Area (FRA)
Unzoned LRA
Incorporated City
Projection: NAD 83 California Teale Albers
Scale: 1:49,000 at 11" x 17"
Km 0 1 2 3 4
Mi 0 1 2
Very High High Moderate
Very High High Moderate
Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Area (LRA), as Identified by the State Fire Marshal
Pacifica
Cabrillo
Hwy
35 1
UNINCORPORATED
SAN MATEO CO.
COLMA
DALY CITY
MILLBRAE
SAN BRUNO
SOUTH SAN
FRANCISCO
S A N M A T E O C O . February 24, 2025
As Identified by the
State Fire Marshal
Local Responsibility Area
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
CITY OF PACIFICA – SAN MATEO COUNTY
Fire Hazard Severity Zones in State Responsibility
Area (SRA), Effective April 1, 2024
(b) In the event that a single parcel has more than one fire hazard severity zone associated with such parcel on the City of Pacifica Fire Hazard Severity Zones, the higher fire hazard zone designation shall apply to the entire parcel. In order to effectively administer fire protection and to avoid inconsistent application of the fire hazard zone designations within the same property, it is it is necessary that when a parcel has more than one fire hazard severity zone designation on a single lot, the higher fire hazard severity zone designation applicable on that parcel shall be administered and enforced for the entire parcel.” SECTION 3. The City of Pacifica Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map adopted by the Council is attached hereto and shall be located on the North County Fire website at the following internet address:
https://northcountyfire.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FHSZ_City_LRA_11x17_Pacifica.pdf SECTION 4. Environmental Review. The City Council finds that adoption of this ordinance is not subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 15061(b)(3) as the activity is covered by the common sense exemption that CEQA applies to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
SECTION 5: Severability. The City Council hereby declares every section, paragraph, sentence, clause, and phrase is severable. If any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason found to be invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity, or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases.
SECTION 6: Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days after the date of its passage.
SECTION 7: Publication. The City Clerk shall publish this ordinance in accordance with the applicable law.
SECTION 8: Transmission to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. Within thirty (30) days of adoption of this ordinance, the City Manager or their designee are directed to transmit a copy of the ordinance and a map depicting the adopted zones within the local agency to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and may provide additional information as may be requested by the Board. • • • • •
PASSED AND ADOPTED this ______ day of _______, 2025 by the following vote:
AYES, Councilmembers:
NOES, Councilmembers:
ABSENT, Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN, Councilmembers:
____________________________
Sue Beckmeyer, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
____________________________ ____________________________ Sarah Coffey, City Clerk Michelle Kenyon, City Attorney