Chapter 2 — WILDLAND-URBAN UNTERFACE CODE

Every three years the State of California repeals, revises and republishes the California Building Standards Code ("CBSC") in its entirety and in doing so adopts and publishes amendments to the included California WUI Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 7). Pursuant to California Health & Safety Code section 17958, the CBSC and its California WUI Code become effective in the County of San Diego 180 days after publication. California Health and Safety Code sections 17922, 17958, 17958.5 and 17958.7 provide that the County may adopt the California WUI Code by reference as the County's own code and make such changes or modifications that the Board of Supervisors expressly finds are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological or topographical conditions. In this chapter, the County adopts modifications and changes to the WUI Code portion of the CBSC that are reasonably necessary because of the County's climatic, geological and topographical conditions.

The County adopts as the County WUI Code, for the unincorporated area of the County, the following:

(1) The 2025 California WUI Code (California WUIC) portion of the CBSC,

(2) the 2024 International WUI Code (IWUIC) and

(3) the County's amendments in this chapter.

To determine which of these codes governs in any particular case, code amendments adopted by the State of California shall take precedence over the 2024 IWUIC, and the 2024 IWUIC shall be used for those code sections not adopted by the State. Amendments the County adopts shall take precedence over both the 2024 IWUIC and 2025 California WUI Code provisions. Where this Chapter states that a provision of the California WUI Code is revised, referenced, changed, deleted, added or otherwise modified, that means revised, referenced, changed, deleted, added or otherwise modified as it is incorporated into this Chapter.

This County WUI Code is adopted for the protection of the public health and safety and applies to both ministerial and discretionary projects. It includes definitions, requirements for permits and inspection for installing or altering systems, regulations for the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, conversion, demolition, equipment use and maintenance of buildings, structures and premises, including the installation, alteration or repair of new and existing fire protection systems and their inspection and provides penalties for violation of this code. It shall apply to all new construction and to any alterations, repairs, or reconstruction, except as otherwise provided for in this chapter.

Nothing in this chapter shall interfere with or impede the authority of the final decision maker authorized to approve, conditionally approve or deny discretionary projects.

AMENDMENT TO SECTION 96.2.001

Each of the fire protection districts to which this consolidated fire code applies adopt the following code amendment:

Section 1. That the Board of Directors of the San Diego County Fire Protection District adopts as the WUI Code for the San Diego County Fire Protection District the following: the 2025 California WUI Code and Appendices F & G, the 2024 International WUI Code (IWUIC, together with the District's amendments in this ordinance. This WUI Code is adopted for the protection of the public health and safety. It includes definitions, provisions for the safeguarding of life and property from wildfires, life or property in the occupancy of buildings, requirements for permits and inspection for installing or altering systems, regulations for the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, conversion, demolition, equipment use and maintenance of buildings and structures, including the installation, alteration or repair of new and existing fire protection systems and their inspection and provides penalties for violation of this code. Each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of the San Diego County Fire Protection District WUI Code on file in the office of the San Diego County Fore Protection District are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this ordinance.

(Added by Ord. No. 10977 (N.S.), effective 4-2-26)

The "California WUI Code" means the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code portion of the CBSC, including the IWUIC (2024 edition).

(Added by Ord. No. 10977 (N.S.), effective 4-2-26)

References to "this chapter" shall mean the County WUI Code. References to a section number not proceeded by the prefix "96.2," which stands for the title, division and chapter respectively of a section in this chapter, shall refer to the California WUI Code.

(Added by Ord. No. 10977 (N.S.), effective 4-2-26)

When deletions, revisions and additions are made in this chapter to the California WUI Code, the digits following the first three digits of the section numbers in this chapter refer to conform to the numbering system of the California WUI Code: e.g., SEC. 96.2.302.1 refers to Chapter 3 Section 302.1 of the California WUI Code. When deletions, revisions and additions are made to an appendix of the California WUI Code, "APP" is added to the number: e.g., section SEC. 96.2.APP.G101.2 refers to Appendix Chapter G, Section 101.2 of the California WUI Code.

(Added by Ord. No. 10977 (N.S.), effective 4-2-26)

Section 1.1.12 of the California WUI Code is revised to read:

If any chapter, section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this code is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, contrary to statute, exceeding the authority of the state as stipulated by statutes, or otherwise inoperative, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this code. The Board of Supervisors declares that should any section, paragraph, sentence or word of this chapter be declared invalid for any reason it is the intent of this Board that it would have passed all other portions of this chapter independently of any portion that may be declared invalid.

(Added by Ord. No. 10977 (N.S.), effective 4-2-26)