Chino Hills approves subsidized home‑hardening permit fees after fire‑risk hearing; Marquez dissents

The Chino Hills City Council on Tuesday approved an amendment to the city's master fee schedule to subsidize building permits for voluntary home‑hardening projects aimed at reducing wildfire risk.

Staff said updated Cal Fire maps now designate more than 80 percent of the city in some level of fire hazard severity and recommended two new permit types with reduced fees to encourage property owners to perform voluntary upgrades. "The proposed fee for a miscellaneous non‑structural home hardening permit would be $134, which includes a 50 percent subsidy," staff told the council. Staff also proposed a subsidized permit for replacing combustible fence material with noncombustible block wall set at a 50 percent subsidy.

The proposal includes other measures: window and roof replacement projects located in a fire hazard zone must comply with the new wildland‑urban interface code and many common minor upgrades — such as fire caulking, weather‑stripping and flashing — do not require permits, staff clarified.

Vice Mayor Marquez questioned whether a 50 percent subsidy would be enough to prompt action and suggested considering a stronger incentive, even waiving fees for a limited period. "If we could, if that's feasible," Marquez said, urging the council to weigh incentives against costs. Staff said the subsidy was intended to lower the barrier to entry while limiting immediate fiscal impact on the city budget.

No members of the public spoke during the hearing. The council approved the fee‑schedule amendment by a 4–1 vote, with Marquez casting the lone no vote.

The action takes effect as part of the city's building‑permit program; staff said they expect a phased increase in permit activity rather than an immediate surge. The council meeting record shows the motion carried and the new fee categories and subsidy levels will be implemented through the building department's permit process.