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ORDINANCE 687
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ATASCADERO, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE STATE FIRE
MARSHAL’S 2025 LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREA FIRE HAZARD
SEVERITY ZONE MAP
WHEREAS, the California State Fire Marshal, pursuant to Government Code Section
51179, has developed updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps for Local Responsibility
Areas (LRA), including areas within the City of Atascadero; and
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 51179 requires local agencies to designate
Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) within LRAs based on
maps provided by the California State Fire Marshal; and
WHEREAS, the City of Atascadero must adopt the 2025 LRA FHSZ maps as the
official designation of Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within City
limits for purposes of applying state-mandated fire protection building standards; and
WHEREAS, designation of such zones provides critical support for public safety efforts
and ensures compliance with California Building Code Chapter 7A and California Fire Code
Chapter 49 for new structures built in VHFHSZs; and
WHEREAS, a duly noticed public hearing was held by the City Council of the City of
Atascadero to consider the adoption of the 2025 LRA FHSZ maps on May 27, 2025; and
WHEREAS, it can be seen with certainty that this Ordinance is exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), as
there is no possibility that adoption of these maps will have a significant effect on the
environment.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATASCADERO
ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Recitals: The above recitals are true and correct.
SECTION 2. Findings. The City Council makes the following findings,
determinations and approvals with respect to the Municipal Code Amendments:
FINDING: The code amendments are justified by climatic, topographic or geological
conditions of the City.
FINDING: The code amendments are at least as restrictive as the State mandated Codes.
FINDING: The following statements support the local necessity for the changes or
modifications:
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Ordinance No. 687
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A. Pursuant to Government Code Section 51179, the areas identified as “Moderate,
High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones” on the 2025 LRA FHSZ map
are hereby designated as such for purposes of applying the building standards set
forth in Chapter 7A of the California Building Code and related fire protection
requirements, and as designated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection pursuant to Government Code Section 51178.
B. That seasonal climatic conditions during the late summer and fall create numerous
serious difficulties in the control and protection against fire situations in the City of
Atascadero. The hot, dry weather in combination with Santa Ana winds frequently
results in wildland fires in the brush-covered slopes on the Santa Lucia Mountains
and several areas surrounding. The aforementioned areas completely surround the
City. When a fire occurs in said areas, such as occurred in 1994, the Highway 41
fire burned for several days and entered the City, the entirety of local fire
department personnel is required to control, monitor, fight and protect against such
fire situations in an effort to protect life and preserve property and watershed land.
The same climatic conditions may result in the concurrent occurrence of one or
more fires in the more populated areas of the City without adequate fire department
personnel to protect against and control such a situation. Therefore, the above-
described findings support the imposition of fire-protection requirements set forth
in the California State Building Standards Code, and in particular support the
imposition of greater requirements than set forth in the 2022 California Building and
Fire Codes;
C. The City of Atascadero has recognized the threat of wildland fire as a high risk
and identified the need for mitigation in the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. Pre-
fire and post-fire management strategies and tactics to reduce the loss from
wildland fire within the City has been identified and prioritized. Additionally,
areas within the City limits that pose a higher risk to wildland fire than others
have been identified. The above-described risks and needs support the City’s
identification of a geographical area titled, “Wildland Urban Interface Fire Area”,
which is at significant risk from wildfires and creation of the Wildland Urban
Interface Fire Area Map in which the area of fire threat is equivalent or
supersedes the very high fire severity zones imposed by the state. Further, these
risks and needs support the requirement that all buildings in locations designated
in the Wildland Urban Interface Fire Area Map be built to standards in
accordance with the 2022 California Building and Fire Codes and the current
edition of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
SECTION 3. CEQA. The proposed Ordinance is exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Public resources Code Section 21000 et seq., because it can
be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the enactment of this Ordinance would have
a significant effect on the environment (Pub. Resources Code § 21065; CEQA Guidelines §§
15378(b)(4), 15061(b)(3).
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Ordinance No. 687
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SECTION 4. Approval. The City Council of the City of Atascadero hereby in regular
session assembled on May 27, 2025 adopts the 2025 Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard
Severity Zone (FHSZ) Map, as produced and provided by the California State Fire Marshal,
identifying Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within the City’s
jurisdiction. Said map is on file with the Atascadero Fire and Emergency Services Department
and is incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 5. Interpretation. This Ordinance must be broadly construed in order to
achieve the purposes stated in this Ordinance. It is the City Council’s intent that the provisions of
this Ordinance be interpreted or implemented by the City and others in a manner that
facilitates the purposes set forth in this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. Preservation. Repeal of any provision of the AMC or of any previous
Code Sections, does not affect any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred before, or preclude
prosecution and imposition of penalties for any violation occurring before this Ordinance’s
effective date. Any such repealed part will remain in full force and effect for sustaining action or
prosecuting violations occurring before the effective date of this Ordinance.
SECTION 7. Effect of Invalidation. If this entire Ordinance or its application is
deemed invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, any repeal or amendment of the AMC or
other City Ordinance by this Ordinance will be rendered void and cause such previous AMC
provision or other City Ordinance to remain in full force and effect for all purposes.
SECTION 8. Severability. If any part of this Ordinance or its application is deemed
invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the City Council intends that such invalidity will not
affect the effectiveness of the remaining provisions or applications and, to this end, the provisions
of this Ordinance are severable.
SECTION 9. Notice. The City Clerk is directed to certify the passage and adoption of
this Ordinance; cause it to be entered into the City of Atascadero’s book of original ordinances;
make a note of the passage and adoption in the records of this meeting; and, within fifteen (15)
days after the passage and adoption of this Ordinance, cause it to be published or posted in
accordance with California law.
SECTION 10. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in full force
and effect 30 days after its passage and adoption.
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City of Atascadero
Ordinance No. 687
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INTRODUCED at a regular meeting of the City Council held on May 27, 2025, and PASSED,
APPROVED, and ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Atascadero, State of
California, on June 24, 2025.
CITY OF ATASCADERO
____________________________________
Charles Bourbeau, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________________
Lara K. Christensen, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________________
David Fleishman, City Attorney
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO ) ss
CITY OF ATASCADERO )
I, ALYSSA M. SLATER, Deputy City Clerk of the City of Atascadero, DO
HEREBY CERTIFY that Ordinance No. 687 was duly introduced at a regular
meeting held May 27, 2025 and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council
held on the 24th day of June, 2025 by the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: Council Member Funk, Newsom, Mayor Pro Tem Dariz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Council Member Peek, Mayor Bourbeau
_____________________________________
ALYSSA M. SLATER, DEPUTY CITY CLERK
I hereby certify that the foregoing is the original of Ordinance No. 687 duly
passed and adopted by the Atascadero City Council at their regular meeting held
on June 24, 2025 and that summaries of the Ordinance were published on
6/12/2025 and 6/26/2025 in the News Times newspaper.
_____________________________________
ALYSSA M. SLATER, DEPUTY CITY CLERK
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