REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 23, 2026
FROM
MIGUEL FIGUEROA, Director, Land Use Services
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
Agreement for Fire Hazard Abatement Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Acting as the governing body of San Bernardino County, approve Agreement with the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, for fire hazard abatement services as set forth in San Bernardino County Code sections 23.0301 through 23.0319, under which San Bernardino County, through its Land Use Services Department will identify, collect, and transfer all applicable Fire Hazard Abatement related revenue, for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.
2. Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, approve Agreement with San Bernardino County, through its Land Use Services Department, for fire hazard abatement services as set forth in San Bernardino County Code sections 23.0301 through 23.0319, and to receive all applicable Fire Hazard Abatement related revenue identified, collected, and transferred by San Bernardino County for hazard abatement services, for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
(Presenter: Miguel Figueroa, Director, 387-4431)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommended actions will not require the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). All applicable San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department (LUS) Fire Hazard Abatement (FHA) related revenue for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, will be transferred to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) to cover actual expenses related to the FHA program. Adequate appropriation and revenue for this Agreement is included in LUS’s and SBCFPD’s 2026-27 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
San Bernardino County Code sections 23.0301 through 23.0319 establish the County’s Abatement of Fire Hazards and Hazardous Trees Program (FHA Program) for unincorporated areas of the County. These provisions require property owners and persons in control of property to abate fire hazards and hazardous trees; establish abatement standards for valley, mountain, and desert areas; authorize notice and order procedures; provide appeal rights; authorize emergency abatement when necessary; allow abatement by private contractor if an owner fails to comply; and provide mechanisms for cost recovery, including billing and special assessment on the tax roll.
Effective July 1, 2026, responsibility for administration and delivery of the FHA Program will transition from the LUS Department to SBCFPD. SBCFPD, through the Fire Chief/Fire Warden and designated personnel, is well positioned to perform the operational and enforcement functions of the FHA Program, including inspections, enforcement coordination, abatement oversight, and related fire hazard abatement services.
During the transition period, LUS will continue to provide billing, collection, and related administrative support for FHA-Program fees and related revenues in a phased manner pursuant to a mutually agreed upon implementation and transition plan developed by the parties. Upon completion of the transition period, SBCFPD shall be solely responsible for administration, operation, and delivery of the Program and all related support services. This approach supports operational continuity, allows the County to continue using existing billing and collection systems, and is consistent with the Board-approved 2026-27 Fee Ordinance. Applicable FHA fees and related revenue collected by LUS during the term of the Agreement will be transferred to SBCFPD on a quarterly basis to support FHA program administration and cost recovery.
Under the Agreement, SBCFPD will provide fire hazard abatement services pursuant to San Bernardino County Code sections 23.0301 through 23.0319 for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. LUS will identify, collect, and transfer the FHA Program fees and related revenues actually collected for those services. The Agreement may be terminated upon mutual written Agreement of both parties, as approved by their respective governing bodies. If the Agreement is terminated, payment shall be limited to the actual revenue collected by LUS up to the date effective date of termination.
Approval of this item will allow the FHA Program to continue without interruption while program administration transitions to SBCFPD.
A related item on today’s Board Agenda is being concurrently presented to assign and novate the existing on-call fire hazard abatement services contracts with contractors to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 3, 2026; Land Use Services (Miguel Figueroa, Director, 387-4431) on 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Iliana Rodriguez, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392 and Jessica Trillo, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on June 4, 2026.