The State Fire Safe Regulations set by the Board of Forestry, as authorized under the Public Resource Code (PRC § 4290) have applied to the State Responsibility Area (SRA) since 1991, and since July 2021 apply to the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) in the LRA (Local Responsibility Area) in each County/City.

To learn more, go to  SRA Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map for definition of zones and responsibility areas and read SAFRR State FSR Frequently Asked Questions

In 2022, amendments required by statute were adopted as the Minimum Fire Safe Regulations (FSR). After a public review process, the final regulations, including Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps, were formally issued on April 1, 2023.

Standards set in the FSR provide:

  • access by large firefighting apparatus,

  • concurrent evacuation of residents and workers, and

  • unobstructed traffic circulation during ongoing wildfire emergencies.

The FSR standards are a state minimum—local jurisdictions can write ordinances with stricter standards but not lesser standards.

SAFRR Summary of Standards:
The minimum standards require, for any New Development, that all access roads, private or public must:

  • Be 20 feet wide to enable access to large fire equipment while residents are evacuating.

  • For dead-end roads, be no longer than a set-footage depending on the size of parcels accessed:
    - 1-mile (5280 feet) if all parcels are 20 acres or more,
    -  2640 feet if the smallest parcel is 5-20 acres, 
    -  1320 ft if the smallest parcel is 1-5 acres, or
    -  800 ft if the smallest parcel is less than 1 acre.

  • Meet roadway and bridge limit requirements:
    - bridge weight limit requirements (40,000 pounds),
    - grade limitation of 16% or not to exceed 20% if adequately mitigated; and

  • Provide for two ways out on roads meeting the above standards.

Exemptions vs Exceptions to Standards:

In the FSR, “Exemptions” refer to a complete exclusion from the rule, and have strict limitations.
The FSRs define a Road as Exempt if it is used solely for Agriculture, mining or management of timberland or harvesting of forest products (§ 1270.04(d)).

A road used for agriculture, mining or timberland would not be exempt if there were residences or visitor serving facilities using the same road.

Exemptions are completely different from “Exceptions to Standards,” a variation of the rule or standard that must have the “Same Practical Effect.”

The FSRs allow Exceptions to Standards for roads within the development; yet, many local jurisdictions misuse the exception process; thereby, jeopardizing public safety.