Fire Mitigation Fee Program

On December 11, 1985 ( 11 ), the Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted the Fire Mitigation Fee (FMF) Ordinance, pursuant to its authority under the Mitigation Fee Act. The Mitigation Fee Act (California Government Code sections 66000, et seq.) provides authority for local governments to impose fees to offset the impacts of development on public facilities or services. The statute regulates how public agencies may collect, maintain, and spend development impact fees, including reporting requirements. 

The County's FMF program allows fire districts, lacking legal authority to directly impose and collect mitigation fees, to receive FMF funding for capital facilities and equipment to serve new developments in their districts. The County's Department of Planning and Development Services collects the FMF from applicants when building permits are issued, then distributes the funds to the 12 participating fire agencies on a quarterly basis. 

On May 23^rd, 2023, the Board of Supervisors adopted a new Fire Mitigation Fee Schedule based on the results of a comprehensive nexus study that evaluated appropriate fee levels for fire protection and emergency response needed to support new development. The new fee schedule will be implemented 60 days following Board approval on July 23^rd, 2023. All building permits issued on and after July 23^rd, 2023 will be subject to the new fee schedule.

Please see the Fire Mitigation Fee Schedule  for updated fees for each development type.

Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Fire Mitigation Fee Schedule (7/01/2024 to 6/30/2025)

The fire mitigation fee rate is determined by the development type and is assessed per square foot of floor area.