On March 1, 2025, Governor Newsom issued a
Proclamation Of A State Of Emergency addressing wildfire
risks across the state. The proclamation suspends state laws for
projects that fast-track critical fuels reduction projects.
Eligible projects include:
Removal of hazardous, dead, and/or dying trees
Removal of vegetation for the creation of strategic fuel
breaks as identified by approved fire prevention plans, including
without limitation, CAL FIRE Unit Fire Plans or Community
Wildfire Preparedness Plans
Removal of vegetation for community defensible space
Removal of vegetation along roadways, high-ways, and freeways
for the creation of safer ingress and egress routes for the
public and responders and/or to reduce roadside ignitions
Removal of vegetation using cultural traditional ecological
knowledge for cultural burning and/or prescribed fire treatments
for fuels reduction
Maintenance of previously established fuel breaks or fuels
modification projects
Projects requesting suspension will need to be submitted by the
2025 calendar year. On-the-ground work must begin no later than
October 15, 2026.
The California Natural Resources Agency will be hosting a
public webinartomorrow, Friday, April 11 at
2:00pm. The webinar will provide details on how the state will
implement suspending state-level statutory and regulatory
requirements for critical wildfire public safety projects, and
how to submit a request. Planning department staff are highly
encouraged to listen in.
