Corona Municipal Code Ch. 15.25 Wildland-Urban Interface Code

This chapter shall be cited as the Wildland-Urban Interface Code of the City of Corona and any reference in the city's municipal code or any chapter thereof to the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, or other wildland-urban interface code, refers and applies to this chapter.

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)

(A) Subject to the particular additions, amendments and deletions set forth in this chapter, all the rules, regulations, provisions and conditions set forth in that certain document being marked and designated as the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 7 , and including any supplements, errata, and revisions made thereto are hereby adopted as the Wildland Urban Interface Code of the City of Corona. Appendices A through I are not adopted as part of this code.

(B) One certified copy of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code shall be kept on file in the office of the Building Official of the City of Corona, and any and all references thereto, are adopted as the Wildland-Urban Interface Code of the City of Corona, subject to the changes contained in this chapter. Each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms thereof are referred to, adopted and made a part of this chapter, as though fully set forth at length.

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)

The administrative procedures, as adopted in Chapter 15.02 of the Corona Municipal Code, shall apply to this chapter.

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)

Designated sections of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code are amended to read as set forth in §§ 15.25.050 through 15.25.150.

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)

Section 101.1 is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

"101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code of the City of Corona, hereinafter referred to as "this code."

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)

Section 103 is deleted in its entirety.

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)

Section 104.2 is amended by adding the following sentence to the end of the section:

"The Building Official shall have the authority to interpret and enforce the provisions of this code related to building permits and construction. The Fire Chief and/or Fire Marshal shall have the authority to interpret and enforce the provisions of this code related to fire permits, fire protection plans, and property maintenance."

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)

Section 108 is amended by adding subsection 108.7 to read as follows:

"Section 108.7 Permit Fees. Permit fees, which shall be based on 100% of the cost of service, as established by City Council resolution shall be collected."

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)

Section 109.1.1 is amended by adding the following subsection as follows:

"Section 109.1.1.1 Inspection Fees. The code official is authorized to collect appropriate fees for the inspections in an amount established by City Council resolution."

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)

The term "Code Official" defined in section 202 is hereby replaced in its entirety to read as follows:

"CODE OFFICIAL. The official(s) employed or otherwise charged by the city to interpret and enforce this code, or the code official's authorized representative. Subject to Section 104.2, the term "code official" shall mean the Fire Chief, Fire Marshal, and/or Building Official."

The term "Wildland-Urban Interface Area" defined in Section 202 is hereby replace in its entirety to read as follows:

"WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREA. A geographical area identified by the state as a "Fire Hazard Severity Zone" in accordance with the Public Resources Code Sections 4201 through 4204 and Government Code sections 51175 through 51189, and other areas designated by the City Council to be at a significant risk from wildfires, and shall include those areas designated as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on recommendations from the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Government Code Section 51178."

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)

Section 302.1 is amended by adding subsection 302.1.1 to read as follows:

"302.1.1 Designation of Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The City Council has adopted the recommendations of the State Fire Marshal made pursuant to Government Code section 51178 and designated those areas within the City as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones as shown on the Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps published by the Office of the State Fire Marshal."

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)

Section 404.5 is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

"404.5 Adequate water supply. Fire-flow requirements shall be determined in accordance with the current adopted California Fire Code, the Wildland-Urban Interface Code and Corona Municipal Code Chapter 15.25.

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)

Section 404.5.1 is added to read as follows:

"404.5.1 Increased Fire Flow for Subdivisions in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

(a) General. For new residential subdivisions consisting of five (5) or more lots for one and two family dwellings located within a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ), as designated by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection, the minimum fire-flow requirements shall be increased in accordance with this section.

(b) Fire-Flow Requirements.

(1) The required fire flow shall be not less than 2,000 gallons per minute (GPM) at a residual pressure of 20 psi for a minimum duration of 2 hours.

(2) Where any dwelling unit exceeds 3,600 square feet of floor area, the required fire flow shall be increased to 2,500 gpm for a minimum duration of 2 hours.

(c) Wildland Technical Standard. Where the entire subdivision is constructed in compliance with the most current version of IBHS Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood Technical Standard, the required fire flow shall comply with the standard fire-flow requirements set forth in Table B105.1 of the California Fire Code, as amended by Section 15.12.370 of the Corona Municipal Code.

(d) Fire Hydrant Spacing and Distribution.

(1) Fire hydrants shall be installed pursuant Table C102.1 of the California Fire Code, as amended by Section 15.12.380 of the Corona Municipal Code.

(2) Each hydrant shall be capable of delivering the fire flow required by this section.

(e) Alternative Methods. Where the existing water system cannot support the minimum required fire flow, the fire code official is authorized to approve alternative methods of protection, including but not limited to:

(1) On-site water storage tanks with fire department connections,

(2) Residential fire sprinklers in accordance with NFPA 13R or NFPA 13.

(f) Exception. The following shall comply with the standard fire-flow requirements set forth in Table B105.1 of the California Fire Code, as amended by Section 15.12.370 of the Corona Municipal Code without modification:

(1) Residential subdivisions of fewer than five (5) lots.

(2) Residential subdivisions for multi-family dwellings.

(3) Residential subdivisions located outside of the VHFHSZ.

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)

Section 604.3 is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

"604.3 Requirements. Hazardous vegetation and fuels around all applicable buildings and structures shall be maintained in accordance with the following laws and regulations:

1. Public Resources Code, § 4291.

2. California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Div. 1.5, Ch. 7, Subch. 3, § 1299.03 (see guidance for implementation "General Guideline to Create Defensible Space").

• 3. California Government Code, § 51182.
• 4. California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Div. 1, Ch. 7, Subch. 1, § 3.07.
• 5. City of Corona Vegetation Management Guidelines."

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)

Section 613 is added to read as follows:

"613 Fire Protection Plan/Fuel Modification Plan for New Construction. All new buildings to be built or installed in fire hazard severity zones shall comply with the following:

1. Preliminary fire protection plan/fuel modification plan shall be submitted to the fire code official for review concurrent with the submittal for approval of any tentative tract map or parcel map or building permit application, as applicable.

2. Final fire protection plan/fuel modification plan shall be submitted to the fire code official for approval prior to the issuance of a grading permit or building permit, as applicable.

3. The fire protection plan/fuel modification plan shall include provisions for the maintenance of the fuel modification area in perpetuity and shall meet the criteria set forth in the City of Corona Vegetation Management Guidelines.

4. The fire protection plan/fuel modification plan may be altered if conditions change with the prior written approval of the fire code official.

5. All elements of the fire protection plan/fuel modification plan shall be maintained in accordance with the approved plan and are subject to the enforcement process outlined in this code."

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)

The violation and penalties for Chapter 15.25 shall be as adopted in Chapter 15.02 and 15.70 of the Corona Municipal Code.

(Ord. 3421 § 12 (part), 2025.)