Article VIII — CALIFORNIA WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE

The 2024 International Wildland Urban Interface Code (IWUI), as amended by the State of California Building Standards Commission and known as the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code (CWUI), California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 7, is adopted by reference, and amended as follows.

(2380, § 2, 12-2-25)

Section 101.2 Scope is amended to read as follows.

[A]101.2 Scope. This code applies to building materials, systems and/or assemblies used in the exterior design and construction of new buildings, and additions or alterations to existing buildings, located within a wildland-urban interface (WUI) area and contains minimum requirements to mitigate conditions that might cause a fire originating in a structure to ignite vegetation in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) area, and conversely, a wildfire burning in vegetative fuels to transmit fire to buildings and threaten to destroy life, overwhelm fire suppression capabilities or result in large property losses.

(2380, § 2, 12-2-25)

Section 101.3.1 Application is amended as follows:

101.3.1 Application.

Exception 6: Land or water area acquired or managed for one or more of the following purposes or uses:

6.1

Habitat for endangered or threatened species, or any species that is a candidate for listing as an endangered or threatened species by the state or federal government.

6.2

Lands kept in a predominantly natural state as habitat for wildlife, plant, or animal communities.

6.3

Open space lands that are environmentally sensitive parklands.

6.4

Other lands having scenic values, as declared by the local agency, or by state or federal law.

Section 101.3.1.1 Application date and, where required, is amended to read as follows.

101.3.1.1 Application date and where required. New buildings for which an application for a building permit is submitted on or after July 1, 2008, 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), including:

Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

All incorporated lands designated by the Town of Los Gatos as a Wildland-Urban Interface area, including Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Severity zones.

(2380, § 2, 12-2-25)

Section [A]101.5 Additions or alterations is adopted to read as follows.

[A]101.5 Additions or alterations. Additions or alterations shall be permitted to 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 that the addition or alteration conforms to that required for a new building or structure.

(2380, § 2, 12-2-25)