TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Kelvin Parker, Community Development Director
DATE:December 2, 2025
SUBJECT: Ventura County Fire Protection District Ordinance Pertaining to City Building Standards
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt a resolution ratifying Ventura County Fire Protection District (VCFPD) Ordinance No. 34, without modification, with additions, deletions, and amendments pertaining to building standards within the jurisdictional boundaries of the City of Thousand Oaks.
2. Direct staff to file a copy of the VCFPD’s findings and Chapter 9 of Ordinance No. 34 with the California Department of Housing and Community Development and the California Building Standards Commission, in accordance with California Health and Safety Code §13869.7.
3. Find that this action is not a project as defined under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Minimal staff time to prepare and process the resolution is included in the Adopted FY 2025-26 General Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
On October 14, 2025, VCFPD adopted Ordinance No. 34, thereby repealing Ordinances No. 29 and 32, and adopting by reference the 2025 California Fire Code, the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code, portions of the 2024 International Fire Code, portions of the 2024 International WUI Code, and Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations, with local amendments. VCFPD provides fire protection services within the City of Thousand Oaks, as well as the cities of Camarillo, Moorpark, Ojai, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, and the unincorporated area of Ventura County.
VC Fire Protection District Ordinance Pertaining to City Building Standards December 2, 2025
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DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
The building standards contained in Ordinance No. 34 are a key part of VCFPD’s fire protection strategy. Major provisions include:
Continued requirement for automatic fire sprinkler systems in new buildings, subject to limited exceptions.
Updates and amendments to permit requirements for hazardous commodities, open burning, and storage of combustible materials. Expanded adoption of Wildland-Urban Interface standards to address increased wildfire risk, including fuel modification and defensible space requirements. Zone 0 establishes the most critical defensible space requirements within the first five feet of a structure, targeting the area most prone to ember accumulation and direct flame contact. This zone includes the ground immediately around the building, as well as roofs, balconies, decks, stairs, and the spaces beneath these projections. To minimize ignition risk, all combustible materials, vegetation, mulch, wood chips, vines, synthetic turf, planting boxes, and firewood are strictly prohibited within Zone 0. Tree canopies and vegetation must maintain clearances, and no new trees may be planted within this zone for new construction. The overarching purpose is to create a non-combustible buffer that significantly reduces the likelihood of a structure catching fire during a wildfire event.
California Health and Safety Code Sections 17958, 17958.5, and 17958.7 require VCFPD to file findings that support the need for more restrictive building standards based on local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. The adopted findings of VCFPD include:
Local Climatic Conditions: High temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds contribute to severe wildland fire risk, as seen in recent major fires.
Built-in structural fire protection mitigates risk.
Local Geological Conditions: The region’s seismic activity increases the risk of post-earthquake fires, where automatic fire suppression systems will provide critical protection.
Local Topography: Hills and knolls create conditions where structural fires can quickly ignite wildland fires, spreading fire exposure to other structures.
Ratification ensures that these enhanced fire safety measures apply within Thousand Oaks, consistent with past practice of adopting VCFPD’s more restrictive standards.
The attached resolution (Attachment #1) ratifies the more restrictive building standards in VCFPD Ordinance No. 34 (Attachment #2). These standards, relating VC Fire Protection District Ordinance Pertaining to City Building Standards December 2, 2025
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to fire and life safety, are more restrictive than those adopted by the State Fire Marshal and contained within the California Building Standards Code. California law requires building standards adopted by local jurisdictions that are more restrictive than State standards to be enacted by ordinance within 180 days after publication of the California Building and Fire Codes. Health and Safety Code Section 13869.7 authorizes the VCFPD to adopt such standards, but requires ratification by the legislative body where the standards will apply. Therefore, in order for these more restrictive standards to apply within the City, City Council must ratify standards adopted by the VCFPD.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goal:
D. Maintain strong commitment to public safety (including Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, and Emergency Management) to ensure City remains one of the safest Cities in the United States with a population over 100,000.
PREPARED BY: Teo Francu, Building Official
Attachments:
Attachment #1 - Resolution
Attachment #2 - Excerpt of VCFPD Ordinance No. 34 (Building Standards) cdd:540-15\H:\COMMON\City Council\CC Agenda Items\2025\11042025\Fire Code Update Staff Report.docx.