City of Chula Vista
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The City of Chula Vista is committed to providing safe communities for Chula Vista residents and businesses. The threat of wildfire has existed in Southern California, including the city of Chula Vista, for years. As the environment changes and we experience warmer summers and drier winters, wildfire safety continues to be a priority.
Devastating wildfires in the last 25 years across the state have resulted in homeowners and businesses being negatively impacted by increases in insurance costs. Many have seen substantial increases in premiums, cancelled policies, or the inability to obtain insurance coverage at all.
The City of Chula Vista and the Chula Vista Fire Department have taken proactive steps in combating the threat of wildfire and providing support for the community. As a result, the City and the Fire Department have been selected to the State of California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Fire Risk Reduction Community List. This designation recognizes City’s ongoing commitment to wildfire preparedness and mitigation.
What is the Fire Risk Reduction Community List (FRRCL)?
The FRRCL is defined as a list of local agencies located in a State Responsibility Area or a Local Responsibility Area Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, identified by the Board (of Forestry and Fire Protection) pursuant to Public Resources Code (PRC) § 4290.1, which meet fire planning best practices.
The City of Chula Vista and the Chula Vista Fire Department has successfully met the rigorous criteria set by the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, demonstrating a commitment to advanced fire prevention and planning. The criteria for inclusion on the list include adherence to comprehensive fire planning standards and implementation of proactive fire risk reduction measures.
This prestigious recognition is part of the state’s effort to enhance fire safety and resilience across California’s high-risk areas.
How Does the FRRCL Benefit the Community?
Chula Vista’s designation as a Fire Risk Reduction Community may have a positive impact on residents in addressing the challenges of obtaining/maintaining homeowners’ insurance at an affordable cost.
In 2022, the California Department of Insurance (DOI) issued regulations that require insurance companies to factor in the FRRCL designation when offering insurance rates.
Residents are encouraged to contact their homeowner’s insurance provider to inquire about receiving a discount on their policy. If your insurance carrier requests evidence of this designation, you can view a copy of the California Board of Forestry's signed resolution and map, or visit the 2024 Fire Risk Reduction Community List.
What Can I Do if I Am Not Offered Discounts Based on the FRRCL?
If an insurer is not accepting the Fire Risk Reduction Community List into account and are not applying approved discounts, the policyholder should submit a Request for Assistance (RFA) to the Department of Insurance to investigate their specific situation. An RFA may be completed and submitted through the DOI website: https://cdiapps.insurance.ca.gov/CP/login.
Where Can I Find Information About the Department of Insurance Regulations for Wildfire Insurance Discounts?
Having safer communities helps keep insurance affordable and available. After meeting with consumers from 38 counties and convening an extensive Department investigatory wildfire hearing, California Insurance Commissioner Lara promulgated permanent regulations that require insurance companies to give wildfire safety discounts to property owners who have reduced their risk of loss from wildfire by undertaking specific mitigation efforts. These achievable and effective property-level and community-level mitigation efforts were identified in the Safer from Wildfires framework, an interagency collaboration between the Department of Insurance and the state’s emergency response and readiness agencies.
- Read about the wildfire safety regulation
- View the Safer from Wildfires web page
- View the full text of the Safer from Wildfires regulation here