NATURAL DISASTER EXEMPTION

Exemption from the Fire Prevention Fee Due to Natural Disaster

If a natural disaster has damaged or destroyed your habitable structure, you may be exempt from paying the Fire Prevention Fee. Assembly Bill 2048, signed into law on September 30, 2014, states that the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection may exempt from the State Responsibility Area (SRA) Fire Prevention Fee any habitable structure that is subsequently deemed uninhabitable as a result of a natural disaster during the year for which the fee is due, as well as one subsequent year if the habitable structure has not been repaired or rebuilt.

Beginning with Fiscal Year 2014-2015, if you received a bill for the Fire Prevention Fee, and your habitable structure is no longer habitable due to a natural disaster that occurred on or after July 1, 2014, you may apply for an exemption from the Fire Prevention Fee. If the structure is not repaired or rebuilt within one year, a request for an exemption may be submitted during the second year.

Submitting a Request for Exemption from the Fire Prevention Fee Due to Natural Disaster

To apply for an exemption, the owner of the habitable structure must comply with the following conditions:

1. The owner of the habitable structure must certify that the structure is not habitable as a result of a natural disaster; and
2. Either document that the habitable structure passed a defensible space inspection conducted by CAL FIRE or by one of its agents within one year of the date the structure was damaged or destroyed, or certify that clearance as required under Public Resources Code, Section 4291 was in place at the time that the structure was damaged or destroyed as a result of a natural disaster.
3. The owner of the habitable structure must complete the form, Request for Exemption from the Fire Prevention Fee Due to Natural Disaster (BOFFP Form Version 2, Adopted 5/13/15), and mail it to the Fire Prevention Fee Service Center.

Online Form
You may download an application by clicking the link below:
Request for Exemption from the Fire Prevention Fee Due to Natural Disaster
Request for Exemption from the Fire Prevention Fee Due to Natural Disaster – Spanish
Please fill out the form completely. Missing information may delay the processing, and/or may result in your request being declined. Print and mail a signed copy of the completed form to the Fire Prevention Fee Service Center at the following address:

Fire Prevention Fee Service Center
Attn: Exemptions
P. O. Box 2254
Suisun City, CA 94585

*Retain a copy for your records.

Request a Form by Phone
An application may be requested by contacting the Fire Prevention Fee Service Center at
1-888-310-6447. Mail the completed form to the Fire Prevention Fee Service Center at the following address:

Fire Prevention Fee Service Center
Attn: Exemptions
P. O. Box 2254
Suisun City, CA 94585

*Retain a copy for your records.

Request a Form by Mail
An application may be requested by writing to the Fire Prevention Fee Service Center address below. Mail the completed form to the Fire Prevention Fee Service Center at the following address:

Fire Prevention Fee Service Center
Attn: Exemptions
P.O. Box 2254
Suisun City, CA 94585

*Retain a copy for your records.

Decision Process and Timeline
After your Request for Exemption from the Fire Prevention Fee Due to Natural Disaster application is received by the Fire Prevention Fee Service Center, a letter acknowledging your submittal will be sent to you in the mail. Your request will be reviewed by CAL FIRE and the exemption granted as appropriate. A notification regarding the outcome as well as any further action required will be sent to you.