Belmont Municipal Code Div. 11 Wildland Urban Interface Code

The 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (CWC), California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 7, adopting the 2024 International Wildland Urban Interface Code with necessary California amendments, is adopted by reference as the Wildland-Urban Interface Code of the City of Belmont and may be referred to as the Wildland Code. The Office of the City Clerk is directed to maintain a copy of the 2025 CWC.

(Ord. No. 2025-1191, § 40, 11-25-25)

(a) The following Appendix Chapter of the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code is adopted: (none).

(b) The remaining Appendix Chapters are not adopted unless adopted by a state agency for application to occupancies subject to that agency's jurisdiction.

(Ord. No. 2025-1191, § 40, 11-25-25)

(a) Except for the sections set forth in subsection (b), the requirements reproduced in Chapter 1, Division II of the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code are adopted by reference, and govern the administration of the Belmont Wildland Code. References to model codes in the adopted sections mean the corresponding California Codes as adopted by the City of Belmont.

(b) The following sections of Chapter 1, Division II of the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code are not adopted unless adopted by a state agency for application to occupancies subject to that agency's jurisdiction: 101.1, 101.4, 103, 104.7, 104.7.1, 104.7.2, 104.7.3, 104.7.4, 104.7.5, 104.8, 104.8.1, 109.3.7, and 112.3.

(Ord. No. 2025-1191, § 40, 11-25-25)

The 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is amended as provided in Sections 7-103.202, 7-103.303, and 7-103.603. The number to the right of the decimal point in these sections corresponds to the section in the 2025 California Building Code that is amended.

(Ord. No. 2025-1191, § 40, 11-25-25)

Section 202 of the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code is amended by the addition of the following definitions. All other definitions in section 202 remain and are unchanged:

Section 202 - Definitions.

HAZARDOUS TREE. A tree that is dead or otherwise poses a fire hazard as defined in California Code of Regulations Title 19, Section 3.14. A tree is not deemed hazardous based solely because of its species.

IMPORTANT STRUCTURE. A building that is considered not expendable in an exposure fire.

(Ord. No. 2025-1191, § 40, 11-25-25)

Section 303 is added to the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code to read:

303. Local Wildland Urban Interface Areas. Areas recommended by the State Fire Marshal and designated by the City of Belmont as a moderate, high or very high fire hazard severity zone are wildland urban interface areas. Buildings and structures within all wildland urban interface areas must comply with the requirements of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code applicable to very high fire hazard severity zones.

(Ord. No. 2025-1191, § 40, 11-25-25)

Section 603 of the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code is amended to read:

603.1 through 603.4.1 {CWC text not modified}

603.4.2 Trees.

Trees shall be managed as follows within the 30-foot zone (9144 mm) of a structure:

1. New trees shall be planted and maintained so that the tree's dripline at maturity is a minimum of 10 feet (3048 mm) from any combustible structure.

2. The horizonal distance between crowns of new trees and the crowns of adjacent trees shall not be less than 10 feet (3048 mm).

3. Existing trees shall be trimmed to provide a minimum separation of 10 feet (3048 mm) away from chimney and stovepipe per California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 1299.03.

4. Hazardous trees must be removed if they are within 100 feet of any important structure.

603.4.2.1 Nonfire-smart vegetation. New trees not classified as fire-smart vegetation, such as conifers, palms, pepper trees and eucalyptus species, shall be permitted provided the tree is planted and maintained so that the tree's drip line at maturity is a minimum 30 feet (9144 mm) from any combustible structure. Nothing in this section is intended to prevent the planting of any species.

603.4.2.2 Tree within defensible space. Trees are allowed within the defensible space, provided that the horizontal distance between crowns of adjacent trees and crowns of trees and structures, overhead electrical facilities or unmodified fuel is not less than 10 feet (3048 mm). Trees shall be maintained alive. Hazardous trees must be removed as provided in 603.4.2.

(Ord. No. 2025-1191, § 40, 11-25-25)