Title
Sheriff's Office recommending the Board approve the Final Passage (Second Reading) of Ordinance 5253 to add Title 8, Chapter 8.07 to prohibit unauthorized ignition or maintenance of fire.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On February 10, 2026 item 28, the Board approved the Introduction (First Reading) of Ordinance 5253 to add Title 8, Chapter 8.07 to prohibit unauthorized ignition or maintenance of fire and Continued to the matter to March 3, 2026 for Final Passage (Second Reading).
On February 3, 2026, with Legistar file 26-0181, the Board provided conceptual approval to add Chapter 8.07 to Title 8, Public Health and Safety, of the El Dorado County Ordinance Code.
The proposed ordinance is titled “Unlawful Fires on Private or Public Property” and aims to prohibit the unauthorized ignition, maintenance, or permission of fires that threaten public safety, property, and the environment. The ordinance includes enforcement and penalty provisions and provides specific exceptions for controlled burns and approved recreational fires.
The addition of this ordinance is necessary due to the increasing threat of wildfire in the County, which is largely located in State or Local Responsibility Areas designated as Moderate to Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. El Dorado County has suffered several recent catastrophic wildfires (e.g., Caldor, Mosquito, and King fires). This ordinance is intended to protect lives, property, and first responders by curbing high-risk, unauthorized fire behavior.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to adopt these changes, and better safeguards would not be put into place to protect public health, safety, and the environment.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
02/03/2026 Legistar file 26-0181- Conceptual approval to add Title 8, Chapter 8.07.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel and the Chief Administrative Office
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no direct financial impact from these changes.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Obtain the Chair’s signature on the original Ordinance 5253 after adoption.
2) Publish a summary of Ordinance 5253 pursuant to Government Code Section 25124(b)(1).
3) Publish the full Ordinance 5253 pursuant to Government Code Section 25124(a).
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Undersheriff Eric Palmberg