State Fire Marshal: home hardening

The law establishes a statewide benchmark for whether homes can better withstand embers, flames, and radiant heat. It will also provide public estimates of home-hardening needs in fire hazard zones.

What the law does ​

• Requires the Office of the State Fire Marshal to develop home-hardening standards by January 1, 2028.
• Requires standards to assess whether a home is sufficiently hardened to reduce fire risk from ember showers, direct flames, and radiant heat.
• Requires the State Fire Marshal to compile a report by January 1, 2030, covering homes in moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones in state and local responsibility areas.
• Requires the report to estimate total homes, homes meeting the standards, and homes needing further hardening by responsibility area and county.
• Requires the State Fire Marshal to post the report online and submit it to the Legislature by July 1, 2030.

Who it affects ​

• Homeowners and residents in moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones.
• The Office of the State Fire Marshal and State Fire Marshal.
• Counties and areas under state and local fire-responsibility designations.

Context ​

Fire-hazard zones covered include zones in both state and local responsibility areas.