State Fire Marshal: home hardening certification program implementation plan

The program is intended to reduce fire losses by identifying upgrades homeowners can make during renovations or property improvements. It will also help bring existing homes closer to state wildfire-area building standards.

What the law does ​

• Requires the State Fire Marshal’s Wildfire Mitigation Advisory Committee to develop a program implementation plan and report its recommendations to legislative committees by January 1, 2028.
• Requires recommendations for multiple certification tiers, including an ember-resistant tier, inspector qualifications, certification duration, and implementation steps.
• Sets the minimum voluntary certification tier at nationally recognized wildfire-prepared standards or a level supported by an actuarial finding of meaningful reduction in ember-caused ignitions.
• Requires the State Fire Marshal to establish the certification program by January 1, 2029, based on the committee’s recommendations.
• Allows the Office of the State Fire Marshal to use appropriated Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund money to develop the plan.

Who it affects ​

• Homeowners undertaking voluntary renovations or property improvements in wildfire-prone areas.
• Home-hardening inspectors, contractors, builders, and wildfire-mitigation stakeholders.
• The Office of the State Fire Marshal and its Wildfire Mitigation Advisory Committee.