SB 911: Transfer of real property: fire hazard severity zones: compliance documentation.
this bill aims to improve fire safety in california by requiring sellers of properties in high or very high fire hazard severity zones to provide compliance documentation to buyers. if the seller does not have the documentation, the buyer and seller must enter into a written agreement for the buyer to obtain the documentation within one year of the close of escrow. the seller must notify the local fire department of the written agreement and the buyer's obligation. the local fire department or department of forestry and fire protection must conduct a compliance inspection at the property if documentation is not received. the department can prioritize compliance inspections based on certain factors. local fire departments are authorized to recover the costs of compliance inspections and reinspections. the bill does not modify the immunities granted to local fire departments under the law…
| Aug. 30, 2026 | Ordered to inactive file on request of Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry. |
| Aug. 17, 2026 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Aug. 13, 2026 | Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading. |
| Aug. 13, 2026 | From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 13). |
| Aug. 13, 2026 | Assembly Rule 63 suspended. |
| Amended IN Assembly August 13, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly June 01, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate March 10, 2026 |
| Introduced by Senator Becker (Coauthor: Senator Reyes) |
January 26, 2026 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
Existing law requires each county assessor and recorder to make available, without charge and upon request, a form entitled “Preliminary Change of Ownership Report,” which transferees of real property are required complete and authorized to file with the recorder concurrent with the recordation of any document effecting a change in ownership.
(2)Existing property tax law provides that any information and records in the assessor’s office that are not required by law to be kept or prepared by the assessor, disabled veterans’ exemption claims, and homeowners’ exemption claims are not public documents and prohibits that information from being open to public inspection, subject to certain exceptions, including a requirement that the assessor permit access to all records in the assessor’s office to, among others, any duly authorized legislative or administrative bodies of the state pursuant to their authorization to examine those records.
This bill would additionally require the assessor to permit access to records in the assessor’s office to Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and local fire departments and fire protection districts, pursuant to their authorization to examine those records.
(3)Existing property tax law requires the above-described preliminary change of ownership report to give information relative to the transfer, including, but not be limited to, a description of the property, the parties to the transaction, the date of acquisition, the amount, if any, of the consideration paid for the property, whether paid in money or otherwise, and the terms of the transaction. Existing property tax law prohibits that report from including any question that is not germane to the assessment function.
This bill would, notwithstanding those provisions, require that report to include a question specifying whether the property is located in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone, as identified by the State Fire Marshal, and, if so, whether the buyer has an obligation to obtain documentation of compliance within one year of the date of the close of escrow pursuant to a written agreement.
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