How New Fire Risk Policies Are Reshaping California Land Use and Construction

Wildfire risk is a clear and present danger, as made clear by the Palisades, Eaton and other recent wildfires that have spread into urban areas. Cal Fire is required by state law to assess wildfire hazard areas, and it has just released new maps that show a 168% increase since 2011 in the total area of California subject to high and very high wildfire hazards. Almost 1 in 10 Californians now live in those areas, including parts of Beverly Hills and nearby cities, and are subject to a gauntlet of special construction, land clearance and disclosure laws. Furthermore, property owners need to get insurance from insurance companies which want to reduce their fire risk, and which follow their own hazard maps and underwriting standards, not the state maps.

Our speakers, Don Schmitz, a land use consultant, and Michael Lynch, a casualty insurance broker respectively, will explain how fire maps and insurance requirements impact land use, construction, maintenance, and costs. The seminar will strive to help prepare attorneys to guide their clients in a complex and changing situation.