Corte Madera Municipal Code Ch. 15.04 Wildland Urban Interface Code

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 1050, § 3, adopted October 21, 2025, repealed the former Ch. 15.04, §§ 15.04.010—15.04.100, and enacted a new Ch. 15.04 as set out herein. The former Ch. 15.04 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. 905, § 1 (part), 2008; Ord. 907, § 2, 2008 and Ord. No. 1007, § 6, adopted June 15, 2021.

There is hereby adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Corte Madera, for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion the following:

1. The 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, which consists of certain portions of the 2024 edition of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code as amended by the California Building Standards Commission, including:

a. Appendix A GENERAL REQUIREMENTS, the whole thereof, save and except such portions as are hereafter amended by Section 1 of this Ordinance.

Where conflicts occur between the provisions of the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code and 2024 International Wildland Urban Interface Code, the provisions of the more restrictive code shall apply.

Not less than one (1) copy of the Codes and Standards hereby adopted is filed in the office of the Fire Marshal of the Central Marin Fire Authority and the same are hereby adopted and incorporated fully as if set out at length herein, and from the date on which this Chapter 15.04 shall take effect, and the provisions thereof shall be controlling within the limits of the Town of Corte Madera.

(Ord. No. 1050, § 3, 10-21-2025)

The 2025 California Fire Code, which consists of certain portions of the 2024 edition of the International Fire Code as amended by the California Building Standards Commission and the 2024 International Fire Code, as adopted and amended herein shall be enforced by the Fire Prevention Bureau of the Central Marin Fire Authority and shall be operated under the Fire Code Official save and except Chapter 5 of the California Wildland Urban Interface Code as amended, which shall be enforced by the Building Department of the Town of Corte Madera and shall be operated under the Building Code Official.

(Ord. No. 1050, § 3, 10-21-2025)

Wherever they appear in the California and International Wildland Urban Interface Codes, unless otherwise provided, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:

(a) Whenever the words "WUI Code" are used they shall mean those Codes and Standards adopted in Section 15.04 of this Code.

(b) Wherever the term "Counsel" is used in the Wildland Urban Interface Code, it shall be held to mean the Town Attorney for the Town of Corte Madera.

(Ord. No. 1050, § 3, 10-21-2025)

The 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code is hereby amended and changed in the following respects:

CHAPTER 1 ADMINISTRATION

Section 101.3.1 of Chapter 1 is hereby amended by deleting exception 5.

Section 101.3.1.1 of Chapter 1 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

101.3.1.1 Application date and where required. New buildings and substantial remodels located in any Fire Hazard Severity Zone or Wildland-Urban Interface Area shall comply with this code, including all of the following areas:

All unincorporated lands designated by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection as State Responsibility Area (SRA) and Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) including:

Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

Land designated as a wildland-urban interface area by the Town of Corte Madera.

Section 101.5 of Chapter 1 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

101.5 Additions or alterations. Additions or alterations may be made to any building or structure without requiring the existing building or structure to comply with all of the requirements of this code provided the additions or alterations do not constitute a substantial remodel and, provided the addition or alteration conforms to that required for a new building or structure.

Exception: Provisions of this code that specifically apply to existing conditions are retroactive. See Sections 402.3, and 601.1.

Additions or alterations shall not be made to an existing building or structure that will cause the existing building or structure to be in violation of any of the provisions of this code nor shall such additions or alterations cause the existing building or structure to become unsafe. An unsafe condition shall be deemed to have been created if an addition or alteration will cause the existing building or structure to become structurally unsafe or overloaded; will not provide adequate access in compliance with the provisions of this code or will obstruct existing exits or access; will create a fire hazard; will reduce required fire resistance or will otherwise create conditions dangerous to human life.

Section 101.6 of Chapter 1 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

101.6 Maintenance. All buildings, structures, access, water supply, landscape materials, vegetation, defensible space or other devices or safeguards required by this code shall be maintained in conformance with the code edition under which the same were installed. The owner or the owner's designated agent shall be responsible for the maintenance of buildings, structures, access roads, water supplies, landscape materials and vegetation.

Section 104.2 of Chapter 1 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

Section 104.2 Determination of compliance.

The Fire Chief is authorized to determine compliance, render interpretations of this code and to make and enforce rules and supplemental regulations and to develop Fire Protection Standards to carry out the application and intent of its provisions. Such interpretations, rules, and regulations, and standards shall be in conformance with the intent and purpose of this code. A copy of such rules and regulations shall be filed with the Fire Chief of the Central Marin Fire Authority and shall be in effect immediately thereafter. Additional copies shall be available for distribution to the public.

Section 104.7 of Chapter 1 is hereby deleted.

Section 105.2.1 of Chapter 1 is hereby added to read as follows:

105.2.1 Local permits required. In addition to the permits required by section 105.2, the following permits shall be obtained from the Fire Prevention Division prior to installation of the following:

a. Implementation of a Fire Protection Plan.

b. Implementation of a Vegetation Plan.

Section 110 of Chapter 1 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

Section 110 Certificate of Completion.

No building, structure or premises shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building, structure, premise or portion thereof shall be made until the code official has issued a "Final Approval" for occupancy thereof. The "Final Approval" for occupancy shall not be issued until the "Final Approval" for occupancy indicating that the project is in compliance with this code has been issued by the code official.

Issuance of a "Certificate of Completion" shall not be construed as an approval of a violation of the provisions of this code or of other pertinent laws and ordinances of the Town of Corte Madera. Certificates presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this code or other laws or ordinances of the Town of Corte Madera shall not be valid.

CHAPTER 2 DEFINITIONS

Section 202 of Chapter 2 is hereby amended by adding the following definitions:

CODE OFFICIAL. The official designated by the Town of Corte Madera to interpret and enforce building standards of this code, shall be the Town of Corte Madera Building Official. The official designated by the Town of Corte Madera to interpret and enforce fire and life safety provisions of this code shall be the Central Marin Fire Chief or their designated representative.

SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL. Shall mean the renovation of any structure, which combined with any additions to the structure, affects a floor area which exceeds fifty percent of the existing floor area of the structure within any 36 month period. When any changes are made in the building, such as walls, columns, beams or girders, floor or ceiling joists and coverings, roof rafters, roof diaphragms, foundations, piles or retaining walls or similar components, the floor area of all rooms affected by such changes shall be included in computing floor areas for the purpose of applying this definition. This definition does not apply to the replacement and upgrading of residential roof coverings.

VMP. Shall mean Vegetation Management Plan or Vegetation Plan.

CHAPTER 4 WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREA REQUIREMENTS

Section 402.1.1 of Chapter 4 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

402.1.1 Access. New subdivisions, as determined by Central Marin Fire Authority, shall be provided with fire apparatus access roads in accordance with the California Fire Code as amended.

Section 402.2.1 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

402.2.1 Access. Individual structures hereafter constructed or substantially remodeled or relocated into or within wildland-urban interface areas shall be provided with fire apparatus access in accordance with the California Fire Code and driveways in accordance with Section 403.

Section 402.2.2 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

402.2.2 Water supply. Individual structures hereafter constructed, substantially remodeled, or relocated into or within wildland urban interface areas shall be provided with a conforming water supply in accordance with Section 404.

Exception: Buildings containing only private garages, carports, and sheds with a floor area of not more than 120 square feet.

Section 403.1.2 of Chapter 4 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

403.1.2 Width.

a. All Roads shall be constructed to provide a minimum of two ten-foot traffic lanes, not including shoulder and striping and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 15 feet. These traffic lanes shall provide for two-way traffic flow to support emergency vehicle and civilian egress, unless other standards are provided in this article or additional requirements are mandated by local jurisdictions or local subdivision requirements.

b. All one-way roads shall be constructed to provide a minimum of one sixteen-foot traffic lane, not including Shoulders. The Local Jurisdiction may approve One-way Roads.

(1) All one-way roads shall, at both ends, connect to a road with two traffic lanes providing for travel in different directions, and shall provide access to an area currently zoned for not more than ten (10) Residential Units.

(2) In no case shall a One-way Road exceed 2,640 feet in length. A turnout shall be placed and constructed at approximately the midpoint of each One-way Road.

c. All driveways shall be constructed to provide a minimum unobstructed horizontal clearance of 16 feet and a minimum unobstructed vertical clearance of 15 feet. A driveway shall not serve in excess of 2 dwelling units.

EXCEPTION: When such driveways meet the requirements for an access road in accordance with the California Fire Code.

Section 403.1.3 of Chapter 4 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

403.1.3 Road Surfaces.

a. Road and driveway surfaces shall be designed and maintained to support the imposed load of fire apparatus weighing at least 75,000 pounds and provide an aggregate base.

b. Project proponents shall provide engineering specifications to support design, if requested by the local jurisdiction.

c. Surface materials shall be all weather surface that is either A/C paving, concrete, or other materials as approved by the AHJ.

Section 403.1.4 of Chapter 4 is hereby amended to add the following:

403.1.4 (c) Any grade approved to exceed 16% is required to be concrete with transverse cuts or kerf-cuts so as to allow for water run-off and traction. Turf block and similar products are not permitted. The length of that portion of the road or driveway cannot exceed 100 feet, and the section immediately preceding and proceeding that portion of the road or driveway for a distance of 200 feet on both sides shall have grades not greater than 15%.

Section 403.1.6 of Chapter 4 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

Section 403.1.6 Turnarounds.

a. Turnarounds are required on driveways and dead-end roads.

b. Driveway turnarounds shall have a minimum inside radius of 27 feet and outside turning radius of not less than 47 feet. If a hammerhead/T is used instead, the top of the "T" shall be a minimum of sixty (60) feet in length.

c. Driveways exceeding 150 feet in length, but less than 800 feet in length, shall provide a turnout near the midpoint of the driveway in addition to a turnaround at the end of the driveway. Where the driveway exceeds 800 feet, turnouts shall be provided not more than 300 feet apart.

d. A turnaround shall be provided on driveways over 150 feet in length and shall be within fifty (50) feet of the building.

e. Each dead-end road shall have a turnaround constructed at its terminus. Where parcels are zoned five (5) acres or larger, turnarounds shall be provided at a maximum of 800-foot intervals.

Section 403.1.10 of Chapter 4 is hereby deleted and the following language substituted in its place:

403.1.10 Gate entrances.

a. All gates shall open fully to provide an unobstructed passage width of not less than 16 feet or a minimum of two feet wider than the approved net clear opening of the required all weather roadway or driveway and a minimum net vertical clearance of 15 feet.

b. All gates providing access from a road to a driveway shall be located at least thirty (30) feet from the roadway and shall open to allow a vehicle to stop without obstructing traffic on that Road.

c. Where a one-way road with a single traffic lane provides access to a gated entrance, a forty-foot turning radius shall be used.

d. Security gates shall not be installed without approval. Where security gates are installed, they shall have an approved means of emergency operation. Approval shall be by the Fire Code Official. The security gates and the emergency operation shall be maintained operational at all times.

Section 403.1.11 is hereby added as follows:

403.1.11 Restricted access. Where emergency vehicle access is restricted because of secured access roads or driveways or where immediate access is necessary for life saving or firefighting purposes, the code official is authorized to require a key access to be installed in an accessible location. The key access shall be of a type approved by the code official and shall contain keys or an approved key switch to gain necessary access as required by the code official.

CHAPTER 5 MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR EXTERIOR WILDFIRE EXPOSURE

Section 503.1 of Chapter 5 is hereby amended by deleting exception 2.

CHAPTER 6 FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS

Section 602.3.1 is amended to include the following:

Section 602.3.1.

4. The map shall include all existing emergency water supplies.

Section 602.3.2 is amended by adding the following:

Section 602.3.2.

7. Identify the location of fire protection systems or equipment.

8. Identify any power sources, meters, and shut downs.

Section 603.3, is amended to read as follows:

Vegetation Management Plan: A Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) shall be provided for all substantial remodels and new construction, or when required by the code official. The Vegetation Management Plan shall include development and maintenance requirements for the Vegetation Management zone adjacent to structures and roadways and provide significant fire hazard reduction benefits for public and firefighting safety. Vegetation Management shall be designed in accordance with this code and Fire Protection Standard 220.

Section 603.3.1, is amended to read as follows:

Delineation of the Zone 0 (0'-5'), Zone 1 (5'-30'), Zone 2 (30'-100') fuel management zones from all structures and Zone 3 (10' on either side of the road or driveway).

Section 604.6 is hereby added with language to read as follows:

Section 604.6 Fire Hazard Reduction.

Any person who owns, leases, controls or maintains any building or structure, vacant lands, open space, and/or lands within specific Wildland Urban Interface areas of the jurisdiction of the [Local AHJ], shall comply with the following:

1. Cut and remove all hazardous vegetation and ground coverings within 100 feet of structures, up to 200 feet when topographic or combustible vegetative types necessitate removal as determined by the Fire Code Official.

2. Remove accumulated dead vegetation on the property.

3. Cut and remove tree limbs that overhang wood decks and roofs.

4. Remove that portion of any tree which extends within 10 feet of any chimney or stovepipe, roof surfaces and roof gutters.

5. Clean any leaves and needles from the roof and gutters.

6. Cut and remove growth less than 3-inches in diameter, from the ground up to a height of 10 feet, provided that no crown shall be raised to a point so as to remove branches from more than the lower one-third of the tree's total height.

7. Ladder fuels shall be removed within 30 feet of the structure.

8. When required by the Fire Code Official, cut and remove trees that are 6" of diameter or less at breast height, or four feet, six inches above ground, to achieve canopy separation within 30 feet of the structure.

9. Remove all combustible mulches within 5 feet of the structure including attachments such as decks, pergolas, and trellises.

10. Vegetation clearance requirements for new construction and substantial remodels in Wildland-Urban Interface Areas shall be in accordance with the 2021 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, as amended by the [Local AHJ].

EXCEPTION 1: When approved by the Fire Code Official, single specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery or similar plants, or plants used as ground covers, provided that they do not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from the native growth to any structure.

EXCEPTION 2: When approved by the Fire Code Official, grass and other vegetation located more than 30 feet (9144 mm) from buildings or structures less than 18 inches (457 mm) in height above the ground need not be removed where necessary to stabilize soil and prevent erosion.

Section 604.7, is added to read as follows:

Section 604.7 Fire Hazard Reduction from Roadways.

The Fire Code Official is authorized to cause areas within 10 feet (3048 cm) on each side of portions of highways, fire apparatus access roads (improved or unimproved), and driveways (improved or unimproved), which are improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic to be cleared of flammable vegetation and other combustible growth.

EXCEPTION 1: When approved by the Fire Code Official, single specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery or similar plants, or plants used as ground covers, provided that they do not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from the native growth to any structure.

Section 613 of Chapter 6 is hereby added with the following language:

Section 613 Fire Protection Systems.

Section 613.1 of Chapter 6 is hereby added with the following language:

Section 613.1 General.

The installation of fire protection systems shall be in accordance with nationally recognized standards and Local Fire Protection Standards.

Section 613.2 of Chapter 6 is hereby added with the following language:

Section 613.2 Automatic Fire Sprinkler System.

An approved automatic fire sprinkler system shall be installed in all occupancies, in new buildings, and substantial remodels. The installation of the automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be in accordance with nationally recognized standards and Fire Protection Standards.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Detached pool houses, workshops, Group U private garages, barns and similar structures, built in conjunction with existing non-sprinklered single family residences and provided the new structure is less than 1,000 square feet and is not intended for use as a dwelling unit.

2. Detached non-combustible, limited combustible, or fire retardant treated wood canopies.

3. Group B or M occupancies less than 1000 square feet.

4. Detached restroom facilities associated with golf courses, ball fields, parks and similar uses as approved by the Fire Code Official.

Section 613.3 of Chapter 6 is hereby added with the following language:

Section 613.3 Exterior Wildfire Protection System.

An approved system of devices and equipment, automatically or manually activated, that discharges water or another approved fire-extinguishing agent onto the structure and surrounding defensible space zones (Zone Zero and Zone One). These systems are supplemental and do not replace required ignition-resistant construction or vegetation management under PRC 4291, AB 3074.

"Zone Zero" and "Zone One" are defined consistent with PRC 4291 and Title 14 CCR §1299.03, as adopted by CAL FIRE.

Section 613.3.1 of Chapter 6 is hereby added with the following language:

Section 613.3.1 General. Exterior Wildfire Protection Systems shall comply with this section.

Section 613.3.1 of Chapter 6 is hereby added with the following language:

Section 613.3.2 Construction documents. Documentation of the system shall be submitted per 901.2 of the California Fire Code.

Section 613.3.2 of Chapter 6 is hereby added with the following language:

Section 613.3.3 Permits. Permits shall be required as set forth in section 901.3 of the California Fire Code.

CHAPTER 7 REFERENCED STANDARDS

Chapter 7 is hereby amended to add the following language:

Chapter 7 Referenced Standards - ICC.

CFC - 2025: California Fire Code.

1.11.3.4, 1.11.9, 1.11.10, 102.8, 105.1, 201.3, 202, 402.1.1, 402.1.2, 402.2.1, 402.2.2, 403.2.4, 404.4, 404.5, 404.10.3, 606.1, 606.2, 613.3.2.

APPENDIX A

Section A104.7.2 of Appendix A of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is amended to read as follows:

Section A104.7.2 Permits. The Fire Code Official is authorized to stipulate conditions for permits. Permits shall not be issued when public safety would be at risk, as determined by the Fire Code Official.

Section A104.11 of Appendix A of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is hereby added and shall read as follows:

Section A104.11 - Tracer Bullets, Tracer Charges, Rockets and Model Aircraft. Tracer bullets and tracer charges shall not be possessed, fired or caused to be fired into or across hazardous fire areas. Rockets, model planes, gliders and balloons powered with an engine, propellant or other feature liable to start or cause a fire shall not be fired or projected into or across hazardous fire areas.

Section A104.12 of Appendix A of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is hereby added and shall read as follows:

Section A104.12 Explosives and Blasting. Explosives shall not be possessed, kept, stored, sold, offered for sale, given away, used, discharged, transported or disposed of within hazardous fire areas except by permit from the Fire Code Official.

Section A104.13 of Appendix A of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is hereby added and shall read as follows:

Section A104.13 Apiaries. Lighted or smoldering material shall not be used in connection with smoking bees in or upon hazardous fire areas except by permit from the Fire Code Official.

(Ord. No. 1050, § 3, 10-21-2025)

(a) Findings. The town council of the town of Corte Madera has determined and finds that the adoption of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code and 2024 International Wildland Urban Interface Code with the above changes or modifications are needed and are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geologic and topographic conditions as described below.

(b) Local Conditions. Local conditions have an adverse effect on the prevention of: (1) major loss fires, (2) major earthquake damage, and (3) the potential for life and property loss resulting from fires occurring within the town, making necessary changes or modifications to the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code and 2024 International Wildland Urban Interface Code in order to provide a reasonable degree of property security and fire and life safety in this jurisdiction.

Below are listed adverse local climatic, geologic and topographic conditions.

(1) Climatic.

(A.) Precipitation. Precipitation ranges from fifteen to forty-two inches per year with an average of approximately twenty-five inches per year. Approximately ninety percent of rain falls during the months of November through April, and ten percent from May through October.

(B.) Relative Humidity. Humidity generally ranges from fifty percent during daytime to eighty-six percent at night. It drops to twenty percent during the summer months and occasionally drops lower.

(C.) Temperatures. Temperatures have been recorded as high as one hundred four degrees Fahrenheit. Average summer highs are in the seventy-eight-to-eighty-five-degree range.

(D.) Winds. Prevailing winds are from the northwest. However, winds are experienced from virtually every direction at one time or another. Velocities are generally in the five to fifteen mph range, gusting to twenty to thirty mph, particularly during the summer months. Extreme winds, up to fifty mph, have been known to occur.

(E.) Summary. These local climatic conditions accelerate the speed, intensify the degree, and increase the size of fire in the community. Wood shake and shingle roof types proliferate within the town. Times of little or no rainfall, of low humidity and high temperatures create extremely hazardous conditions, particularly as they relate to wood shake and shingle roof fires and conflagrations. The winds experienced in this area can have a tremendous impact upon structure fires of buildings in close proximity to one another, commonly found in Corte Madera. During wood shake and shingle roof fires, or exposure fires, strong winds, such as those regularly experienced by the town, can carry sparks and burning brands to other structures in close proximity, thus spreading the fire and causing conflagrations. In building fires, strong winds can literally force fires back into the building and can create a blowtorch effect, in addition to preventing "natural" ventilation and cross-ventilation efforts. These conditions make it difficult to stop a fire after it has begun, increases the need to rapidly reach the fire before it spreads or intensifies, and increases the risks of property damage, personal injury and loss of life resulting from the fire.

(2) Geological.

(A.) The fire environment of a community is primarily a combination of two factors: the area's physical geologic characteristics and the historic pattern of urban-suburban development. These two factors, alone and combined, create a mixture of environments which ultimately determines the area's fire protection needs.

(B.) Landslides have also been experienced in the town. While stabilization of hillsides can sometimes be achieved, heavy rainfalls have caused failures. These slides can close roadways, making accessibility to many locations in the town impossible until properly cleared.

(C.) The relatively young geological processes that have created the San Francisco Bay Area are still active today. The town sits between two active earthquake faults (San Andreas and the Hayward/-Calaveras) and numerous potentially active faults. One hundred percent of the town is in the strong to violent seismic hazard zones.

(D.) Fire following an earthquake has the potential of causing greater loss of life and damage than the earthquake itself. The majority of the town's industrial complexes are located in the highest seismic risk zones. The highest seismic risk zone also contains the largest concentration of hazardous materials. Hazardous materials, particularly toxic gases, could pose the greatest threat to the largest number, should a significant seismic event occur. The town's resources would have to be prioritized to mitigate the greatest threat and may likely be unavailable for smaller single-dwelling or structure fires. The greater risk of earthquakes results in a higher likelihood of a fire which could lead to substantial damage or loss of life within the town.

(3) Topographic.

(A.) Because of the differing topography of Corte Madera, the characteristics of the fire environment changes from one location to the next. Therefore, the town has not one, but a number of fire environments, each of which has its individual fire protection needs.

(B.) The service area of the Corte Madera has a varied topography and vegetative cover. A conglomeration of bay plains, hills and ridges make up the terrain. Development has occurred on the flat lands in the central portion of the district. Development in the hillside areas on the west and south sides of town is predominantly limited to residential remodeling and additions.

(C.) Many of the buildings in Corte Madera were built long before present code requirements existed. Consequently, many of these structures do not meet even minimal standards for fire protection and life safety. Wood frame construction of older buildings, especially those in mountainous areas, creates an adverse exposure problem, not only in being easily ignited by an adjacent structure fire, but also in contributing to the extension of fire to other buildings through radiation, actual physical heat conduction and flying embers. Fire history in the town has shown flying embers will start secondary fires after blowing in the air.

(D.) Much of the town is characterized by precipitous hilly areas where escape opportunities from residential structures are limited to one side of the home only. The steepness and uneven nature of the land often hinders, and sometimes prevents, the erecting of rescue ladders at the side of a home on a hillside parcel.

(E.) Vehicular access within the town is affected by steep, hilly terrain and many secondary ridgelines. Many streets are narrow and winding, restricting the speed at which fire apparatus may safely respond and also increasing the time lapse between fire detection and apparatus arrival, during which time a family will face the fire or other emergency on their own. The town has many dead-end streets, and on Christmas Tree Hill, there is one main access route in or out of the area. Dead-end streets can restrict the ease of relocating fire and rescue equipment from one location to another, even though actual separating distance between two areas may be minimal. In addition to restricting access routes for fire apparatus, the dead-end streets also limit egress opportunities for residents.

(F.) The town is accessible from the outside by one primary thoroughfare on the east side and three on the west side. Speed limits of twenty-five miles per hour, by virtue of the narrow and twisting configuration of the roads, do not allow quick responses to emergencies. The Highway 101 corridor goes directly through the town and an overpass that may or may not withstand an earthquake presents another problem.

(G.) There is much diversity in slope percentages. Christmas Tree Hill slopes run from nearly level to over seventy percent.

(H.) Corte Madera's semi-arid Mediterranean-type climate produces vegetation similar to that of most of Marin County, with specific growth locales as a result of topography and prevailing wind. The south facing exposure is primarily rye grass, highly flammable brush, with occasional clumps of bay and oak trees in the more sheltered pockets. The north facing slopes are heavily wooded from lower elevations to ridge with oak and bay trees and minor shrubs of the general chaparral class.

(I.) Historic development of the residential community extended into areas of heavier vegetation and has resulted in homes existing in close proximity to dense natural foliage. Often such dwellings are completely surrounded by highly combustible vegetation compounding the fire problem from a conflagration point of view. Of particular recent note is the increase in dead down fuel and litter accumulation directly associated with the dead oak syndrome, which has heightened the risk of fire being caused and spreading in many areas of the town.

(4) Home Hardening. Pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 17958 any changes herein relating to building standards are changes or modifications related to home hardening.

(5) Summary. The above local climatic, geologic, and topographic conditions serve to increase the magnitude, exposure, and access problems characteristic of fire hazards existing within the town of Corte Madera.

Other special circumstances that may tend to increase and intensify the fire hazards facing the town are:

(A.) The extent of damage that may be done to the water system serving properties in the area in times of fire. There are areas within the town in which there are no water mains at all constructed. Meadow Valley has no water main supply to serve properties in the area, other than domestic, and there is minimal water supply that can serve properties along Casa Buena Drive. An insufficient water supply will increase the risk of a fire not being able to be controlled and increasing in degree and in the number of properties being affected after it has begun;

(B.) The extent of isolation experienced by town residents in the event that a fire or other catastrophe beginning a fire causes the bridge and/or freeway overpass to collapse;

(C.) The extent of roadway damage and/or amount of debris blocking the roadways of the town in the event of a fire;

(D.) Climatic conditions (hot, dry weather with high winds which increase the risk and spread of fire;

(E.) Time of day will influence the amount of traffic on roadways which would present an obstacle to timely respond to a fire and could intensify the risk to life during normal business hours when traffic is busiest. The town of Corte Madera covers approximately four square miles including a population estimated at nine thousand one hundred. Many town residents commute to work in other cities which increases the traffic within the town.

(F.) The availability of timely mutual aid or military assistance is an important factor in the ability to respond to fires. The town depends heavily on mutual aid resources for even a single-dwelling structure fire. In a widespread disaster, those resources would be unavailable.

(G.) The close proximity of residences and a large portion of dwellings with wood shingle roof coverings within wildland-urban interface fire areas could result in conflagrations that spread rapidly from residence to residence.

(5) Conclusion. Local climatic, geologic and topographic conditions impact fire prevention efforts, and the frequency, spread, acceleration, intensity and size of fire involving buildings in this community. Further, they impact potential damage to all structures from earthquake and subsequent fire. Therefore, it is found to be reasonably necessary that the 2006 Edition of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code be adopted as amended herein to enhance home-hardening and mitigate the effects of the above conditions.

Current wildfire research shows that structure loss in the WUI is driven primarily by embers igniting vulnerabilities within 0 to 30 feet of the home, especially within Zone Zero. Most homes ignite from embers entering vents, catching combustible attachments or materials alight, or from nearby structure-to-structure fire spread. Suppression resources cannot prevent destruction once ignition cascades begin in dense neighborhoods. Therefore, local defensible space and home hardening requirements must be enforced consistently and clearly to reduce community-scale risk.

(Ord. No. 1050, § 3, 10-21-2025)

Whenever the Fire Code Official disapproves an application or refuses to grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the code do not apply or that the true intent and meaning of the code have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal from the decision of the Fire Code Official to the Town Council in writing, within 30 days from the date of the decision appealed. The Town Council shall render decisions and findings in writing to the Fire Code Official, with a duplicate copy to the appellant.

(Ord. No. 1050, § 3, 10-21-2025)

(a) Any person who violates any of the provisions of the California Fire Code, as adopted and amended herein, or any other section, subsection, or provision of this chapter, or fails to comply therewith, or who violates or fails to comply with any order made thereunder, or who builds in violation of any detailed statement of specifications or plans submitted and approved thereunder, or any certificate or permit issued thereunder, and from which no appeal has been taken, or who fails to comply with such an order as affirmed or modified by the Fire Code Official, or by a court of competent jurisdiction, within the required time, shall severally for each and every such violation and noncompliance, respectively, be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than $100.00 nor more than $1,000.00 or by imprisonment for not more than 180 days or by both such fine and imprisonment. The prosecuting authority may, however, in its discretion charge or reduce any violation to an infraction punishable as stated by Government Code Section 36900(c). The imposition of one penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue; and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within a reasonable time; and, when not otherwise specified, each ten days that prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense.

(b) Violations of the California Fire Code or this Chapter shall be subject to administrative fines as set forth in Chapter 9.05 of the Town Municipal Code.

(c) The application of the above penalty shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions.

(Ord. No. 1050, § 3, 10-21-2025)

All former ordinances or parts thereof conflicting or inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance or the Code hereby adopted are hereby repealed.

(Ord. No. 1050, § 3, 10-21-2025)

By adoption of this chapter the Town Council does not intend to create, establish, or impose any mandatory duty or liability on the part of the town, its officers, employees, or any other person acting on its behalf, notwithstanding the use of "shall", "will", "must", or similar terms within this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1050, § 3, 10-21-2025)

Specific boundaries of natural or man-made features of wildland urban interface areas shall be as shown on the wildland area interface map as delineated in Attachment "A" of this Ordinance and is on file with the Town Clerk.

(Ord. No. 1050, § 3, 10-21-2025)