Defensible Spaces: How Updates to State and Local Codes Aim to Achieve Wildfire Prevention in California

March 16, 2021

Environment, Land Use and Real Estate Section of the BASF Barristers Club


Downey Brand senior associate Natalie Kirkish will be moderating a virtual panel discussion hosted by the Environment, Land Use and Real Estate Section of the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Barristers Club on March 16, 2021 from 2-3:15pm.

This panel will analyze recent changes in California’s defensible space codes, via the passage of AB 3074, and the goals of fire prevention that this change to the code may bring about. Attorneys interested in land use and real estate will learn about California’s defensible space codes, so that they can inform their clients of the best mitigation tools for fire prevention. The panel will discuss land use, building codes and zoning, and construction standards.

Topics include:

  • AB 3074 – signed into law in 2020 changes California’s defensible space codes and requires the California Board of Forestry and Fire protection to update PRC 4291 through an open process
  • SB 901 (2018) – California’s Fire Safe Regulations for building codes
  • Opportunities and challenges in applying defensible space and structure hardening codes
  • Wildfire modeling and analysis to bolster code guidance and inform site-specific fire safety strategy (including defensible space, construction materials/methods, active fire protection, site planning, etc.)

For more information and to register, please visit the BASF Event Page.