Definitions and Key Terms

Grounded in the retrieved California Wildland-Urban Interface Code — click a citation to read the verbatim passage:

• CWUIC § 1-2 High relevance — show source text

  CHAPTER TOPICS	Col2
  CHAPTER	SUBJECT
  1-2	Administration and Definitions
  3-4	Wildland-Urban Interface Area Designation and Requirements
  5	Building Construction Regulations
  6	Fire Protection Requirements
  7	Referenced Standards
  Appendices A-I	Adoptable and Informational Appendices

  Chapter 1 Scope and Administration.

  Chapter 1 establishes the limits of applicability of the code and describes how the code is to be applied and enforced. The provisions of Chapter 1 establish the authority and duties of the code official appointed by the authority having jurisdiction and also establish the rights and privileges of the design professional, contractor and property owner.

  Chapter 2 Definitions.

  Chapter 2 is the repository of the definitions of terms used in the body of the code. The user of the code should be familiar with and consult this chapter because the definitions are essential to the correct interpretation of the code and because the user may not be aware that a term is defined.

  Chapter 3 Wildland-Urban Interface Areas.

  Chapter 3 provides for the fundamental aspect of applying the code—the legal declaration and establishment of wildland-urban interface areas within the adopting jurisdiction, mapping of the area, periodic review and updates.

  Chapter 4 Wildland-Urban Interface Area Requirements.

  The requirements of Chapter 4 apply to all occupancies in the wildland-urban interface and pertain to all of the following:

  1. Fire service access to the property that is to be protected, including fire apparatus access roads and off-road driveways.

  2. Premises identification.

  3. Key boxes to provide ready access to properties secured by gated roadways or other impediments to rapid fire service access.

  4. Fire protection water supplies, including adequate water sources, pumper apparatus drafting sites, fire hydrant systems and system reliability.

  5. Fire department access to equipment such as fire suppression equipment and fire hydrants.

  Chapter 5 Special Building Construction Regulations.

  The regulations in Chapter 5 establish minimum standards for the location, design and construction of buildings and structures based on construction within a Fire Hazard Severity Zone or a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Area.

  The construction provisions of Chapter 5 are intended to supplement the requirements of the California Building Code and Califor- nia Residential Code and address mitigation of the unique hazards posed to buildings by wildfire and to reduce the hazards of building fires spreading to wildland fuels. This is accomplished by requiring ignition-resistant construction materials.

  Chapter 6 Fire Protection Requirements.

  Chapter 6 contains additional requirements for development and construction in Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) designated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and areas designated by the State Fire Marshal as State Responsibility Areas (SRA). While many of these provisions are found in Title 14 and Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations, they are replicated here for the code user. The local jurisdiction has the authority to apply the same regulations to LRA when the regulations are adopted by local ordinance.

  The requirements in this chapter reference the process for adoption of Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the LRA; criteria for evaluating existing subdivisions that are at significant fire risk and are without an adequate secondary egress; and criteria for fire safety provisions required in the Safety Element of a city or county General Plan.

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• CWUIC § 1-2 High relevance — show source text

  Population growth and the expanding urban development into traditionally nonurban areas have increasingly brought humans into contact with wildfires. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), every year, wildfires burn across the United States and a growing number of people are living where wildfires are a real risk. In 2018 more than 58,000 fires burned nearly 9 million acres across the US. More than 25,000 structures were destroyed, including 18,137 residences and 229 commercial structures. California accounted for the highest number of structures lost in one state due to the number of significant fires, including the Mendocino Complex, Carr, Camp and Woolsey fires.

  The IWUIC is a model code that is intended to be adopted and used supplemental to the adopted building and fire codes of a jurisdiction. The unrestricted use of property in wildland-urban interface areas is a potential threat to life and property from fire and resulting erosion. The IWUIC has as its objective the establishment of minimum special regulations for the safeguarding of life and

  x 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE

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  property from the intrusion of fire from wildland fire exposures and fire exposures from adjacent structures and to prevent structure fires from spreading to wildland fuels, even in the absence of fire department intervention.

  Safeguards to prevent the occurrence of fires and to provide adequate fire protection facilities to control the spread of fire in wildland-urban interface areas are provided in a tiered manner commensurate with the relative level of hazard present.

  ARRANGEMENT AND FORMAT OF THE 2025 CWUIC

  The format of the CWUIC allows each chapter to be devoted to a particular subject. The following table shows how the CWUIC is divided. The chapter synopses detail the scope and intent of the provisions of the CWUIC.

  CHAPTER TOPICS	Col2
  CHAPTER	SUBJECT
  1-2	Administration and Definitions
  3-4	Wildland-Urban Interface Area Designation and Requirements
  5	Building Construction Regulations
  6	Fire Protection Requirements
  7	Referenced Standards
  Appendices A-I	Adoptable and Informational Appendices

  Chapter 1 Scope and Administration.

  Chapter 1 establishes the limits of applicability of the code and describes how the code is to be applied and enforced. The provisions of Chapter 1 establish the authority and duties of the code official appointed by the authority having jurisdiction and also establish the rights and privileges of the design professional, contractor and property owner.

  Chapter 2 Definitions.

  Chapter 2 is the repository of the definitions of terms used in the body of the code. The user of the code should be familiar with and consult this chapter because the definitions are essential to the correct interpretation of the code and because the user may not be aware that a term is defined.

  Chapter 3 Wildland-Urban Interface Areas.

  Chapter 3 provides for the fundamental aspect of applying the code—the legal declaration and establishment of wildland-urban interface areas within the adopting jurisdiction, mapping of the area, periodic review and updates.

  Chapter 4 Wildland-Urban Interface Area Requirements.

  The requirements of Chapter 4 apply to all occupancies in the wildland-urban interface and pertain to all of the following:

  1. Fire service access to the property that is to be protected, including fire apparatus access roads and off-road driveways.

  2. Premises identification.

• CWUIC § 601.3 High relevance — show source text

  Dead-end Road 202 Defensible Space 403, 601.3 Vegetation Plan 603 Definitions 202 Designation of Wildland-Urban Interface Area 302.1

  Director 202 Driveway 202 Dumping Appendix A, A106 Dwelling 202

  Exterior Covering 202

  INDEX

  Fees 109 Findings of Fact Appendix E Fire Chief 202 Fire Danger Rating System Appendix D Fire Flow Calculation Area Application 404.5 Defined 202 Fire Hazard Severity Zones 1.1.2, 202, 302.1, 302.2, Appendix D, Appendix H Fire Protection Plans 602

  Fire Weather 202

  Fire-Resistance-Rated Construction 501.3 Fire-Resistive Vegetation Appendix F Fire-Retardant-Treated Lumber or

  Wood 503.2, 504.5, 504.7, 504.11 Flame Spread Index 202 Flashing 504.2.1, 504.5.1 Fuel Break 202, 609 Fuel Models Appendix D Fuel Modification 202

  Fuel Modification Distance 603.2

  Fuel Mosaic 202 Fuel-Loading 202

  General Requirements Appendix A Green Belt 202

  Greenways 202

  Hammerhead/T 202 Hazardous Land Use 202

  Hazardous Materials 202 Heavy Timber Construction 202

  Ignition Source Control Appendix A, A104 Ignition-Resistant Building Material 202, 503 Ignition-Resistant Construction 504 Appendages 504.7 Detached accessory structures 504.11 Eaves 504.3

  Exterior doors 504.9

  Exterior walls 504.5

  Gutters and downspouts 504.4 Protection of eaves 504.3 Roof covering 504.2 Underfloor protection 504.6 Vents 504.10

  Windows 504.8 Ignition-Resistant Construction and Material 503 Inspection and Enforcement 109 Abatement 109.3.8 Authority to inspect 109.1.2 Citations 109.3.4

  Enforcement 109.2 Placarding 109.3.5.3 Prosecution 109.3.6

  Reinspections 109.1.3 Right of entry 104.4 Testing 109.1.4 Unsafe conditions 109.3.5

  Key Box 403.1

  Land Use Limitations Appendix A, A108 Legal Defense of the Code Official 104.8.1 Liability of the Code Official 104.8

  Log Wall Construction 202 LP-Gas Installations 606

  Maintenance 101.6 Maintenance of Defensible Space 604 Modified area 604.2 Responsibility 604.3 Trees 604.4 Mapping of Wildland-Urban Interface Area 302.2 Multilayered Glazed Panels 202

  Noncombustible Roof Covering 202

  Outbuilding 202

• CWUIC § 403.2 Medium relevance — show source text

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  Access Applicability 402 Driveways 403.2 Fire apparatus access roads 403.3 Grade 403.7

  Individual structures 402.2 Marking of roads 402.3, 403.4 Restricted 403.1

  Subdivisions 402.1 Accessory Buildings and Miscellaneous Structures

  Defined 202

  Detached 504.11 Exempt from permit 105.3 Additions or Alterations 101.5

  Address Markers 402.3 Agriculture 202 Alternative Materials or Methods 104.2.2

  Appeals 112 Appendices 101.2.1 Applicable Building 202 Applicability 102 Approved 202 Approved Agency 104.2.2.6.1, 202 Authority of Code Official 104

  Building 202 Building Official 202

  Certificate of Completion 111 Certificate of occupancy 111.2 Revocation 111.4

  Temporary occupancy 111.3

  Code Official 202 Code Official, Authority 104 Community Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework Appendix C Compliance Alternatives 105 Construction Documents 106

  Amended 106.10

  Examination of 106.9 Information on plans and specifications 106.2 Phased 106.12

  Previous approval 106.11 Retention of 106.8 Site plan 106.3 Vegetation management plans 106.4 Control of Storage Appendix A, A105 Critical Fire Weather 202

  Dead-end Road 202 Defensible Space 403, 601.3 Vegetation Plan 603 Definitions 202 Designation of Wildland-Urban Interface Area 302.1

  Director 202 Driveway 202 Dumping Appendix A, A106 Dwelling 202

  Exterior Covering 202

  INDEX

  Fees 109 Findings of Fact Appendix E Fire Chief 202 Fire Danger Rating System Appendix D Fire Flow Calculation Area Application 404.5 Defined 202 Fire Hazard Severity Zones 1.1.2, 202, 302.1, 302.2, Appendix D, Appendix H Fire Protection Plans 602

  Fire Weather 202

  Fire-Resistance-Rated Construction 501.3 Fire-Resistive Vegetation Appendix F Fire-Retardant-Treated Lumber or

  Wood 503.2, 504.5, 504.7, 504.11 Flame Spread Index 202 Flashing 504.2.1, 504.5.1 Fuel Break 202, 609 Fuel Models Appendix D Fuel Modification 202

  Fuel Modification Distance 603.2

  Fuel Mosaic 202 Fuel-Loading 202

  General Requirements Appendix A Green Belt 202

  Greenways 202

• CWUIC § 504.3 Medium relevance — show source text

  504.3 Protection of enclosed eaves. The exposed underside of enclosed roof eaves and soffits shall be protected on the exposed underside by one or more of the following:

  1. Noncombustible materials.

  2. Ignition-resistant building materials. 3. Materials approved for not less than 1-hour fire-resistance-rated construction on the exterior side, as tested in accordance with ASTM E119 or UL 263.

  4. 2-inch (51 mm) nominal dimension lumber . 5. 1-inch (25 mm) nominal fire-retardant-treated lumber or [3] / 4 -inch (19.1 mm) nominal fire-retardant-treated plywood, identified for exterior use and complying with Section 2303.2 of the California Building Code . 6. Boxed-in roof eave soffit assemblies with an underside that meets the performance criteria in Section 504.7.2 when tested in accordance with the test procedures set forth in ASTM E2957. 7. Boxed-in roof eave soffit assemblies with an underside that meets the performance criteria in accordance with the test proce- dures set forth in SFM Standard 12-7A-3.

  Facias are required and shall be ignition-resistant building materials , fire-retardant-treated wood labeled for exterior use and complying with Section 2303.2 of the California Building Code, materials approved for not less than 1-hour fire-resistance-rated construction or 2-inch (51 mm) nominal dimension lumber.

  504.3.1 Protection of open eaves. The exposed roof deck on the underside of unenclosed roof eaves shall consist of one or more of the following:

  1. Noncombustible material.

  2. Ignition-resistant building material. 3. Fire-retardant-treated wood labeled for exterior use and complying with Section 2303.2 of the California Building Code. 4. Materials approved for not less than 1-hour fire-resistance-rated construction on the exterior side, as tested in accordance with ASTM E119 or UL 263.

  5. 2-inch (51 mm) nominal dimension lumber. 6. One layer of [5] / 8 -inch (16 mm) Type X gypsum sheathing applied behind an exterior covering on the underside of the roof deck.

  7. The exterior portion of a 1-hour fire-resistance-rated exterior assembly, as tested in accordance with ASTM E119 or UL 263, applied to the underside of the roof deck designed for exterior fire exposure, including assemblies using the gypsum panel and sheathing products listed in the Gypsum Association Fire Resistance Design Manual.

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  SPECIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS

  Facias, if provided, shall be of fire-retardant-treated wood labeled for exterior use and complying with Section 2303.2 of the Cali- fornia Building Code, ignition-resistant building materials, materials approved for not less than 1-hour fire-resistance-rated construction or 2-inch (51 mm) nominal dimension lumber.

• CWUIC § 1.7 Medium relevance — show source text

  1.7_|Turnouts|Y||||1273.06||||| |403.1.8|Road and driveway
  structures|Y||||1273.07(a)
  1273.07(b)
  1273.07(c)
  1273.07(d)||||| |403.1.9|Dead-end roads|Y||||1273.08(a)
  1273.08(b)||||| |403.10|Gate Entrances|Y||||1273.09(a)
  1273.09(b)
  1273.09(c)
  1273.09(d)||||| |403.2|Signing and Building
  Numbering|Y||||Article 3||||| |403.2.1|Intent|Y||||1274.00||||| |403.2.2|Road signs|Y||||1274.01||||| |403.2.3|Road Sign
  Installation, Location
  and Visibility|Y||||1274.02(a)
  1274.02(b)
  1274.02(c)
  1274.02(d)||||| |403.2.4|Addresses for
  Buildings|Y||||1274.03(a)
  1274.03(b)
  1274.03(c)||||| ||||||||||||

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  APPENDIX H—REFERENCED CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTS

  2025 CWUIC—continued	Col2	Adopted Yes/No	IWUIC Section	CBC Section	CFC Section	Title 14, Division 1.5 Section	Title 19, Division 1 Section	Gov Code Section	PRC Section	HSC Section
  Section	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title
  Chapter 4	Wildland-urban interface area requirements	Wildland-urban interface area requirements	Wildland-urban interface area requirements	Wildland-urban interface area requirements	Wildland-urban interface area requirements	Wildland-urban interface area requirements	Wildland-urban interface area requirements	Wildland-urban interface area requirements	Wildland-urban interface area requirements	Wildland-urban interface area requirements
  403.2.5	Address installation, location, and visibility	Y				1274.04(a) 1274.04(b) 1274.04(c) 1274.04(d) 1274.04(e) 1274.04(f)
  404	Water supply	Y				1275.02
  404.1	General	Y			507	1275.02(b)
  404.2	Required water supply	Y				1275.02(c)
  404.3	Draft sites	Y
  404.3.1	Access	Y			507.5.4
  404.3.

• CWUIC § 4902.1 Medium relevance — show source text

  01(i)||||| ||Exterior wall assembly|Y||702A||||||| ||Exterior wall covering|Y||702A||||||| ||Fire chief|Y||||||||| ||Fire code official|Y|||202|||||| ||Fire flow calculation
  area|Y||||||||| ||Fire hazard severity
  zones|Y||702A|4902.1|||2201||| ||Fire protection plan|Y||702A|4902.1|||||| ||Fire weather|Y||||||||| ||Fire-resistance-rated
  construction|Y||||||||| ||Fire-smart vegetation|Y|||4902.1|1271.01||||| ||Flame spread index|Y||||||||| ||Fuel|Y||||||||4291(a)(1)(A)| ||Fuel break_(T14)|Y||||1270.01(n)||||| ||Fuel modification|Y||||||||| ||Fuel mosaic|Y||||||||| ||Fuel-loading|Y||||||||| ||Green belt(T14)|Y||||1270.01(o)||||| ||Greenways (T14)|Y||||1270.01(p)||||| ||Hammerhead/T (T14)|Y||||1270.01(q)||||| ||Hazardous land use
  (T14)_|Y||||1270.01(r)||||| ||Hazardous materials|Y||||||||| ||Heavy timber
  construction|Y||||||||| ||Ignition-resistant
  building material|Y||||||||| ||Local responsibility
  area (LRA)|Y||702A|4902.1|||||| ||Log wall construction|Y|||||||||

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  APPENDIX H—REFERENCED CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTS

  2025 CWUIC—continued	Col2	Adopted Yes/No	IWUIC Section	CBC Section	CFC Section	Title 14, Division 1.5 Section	Title 19, Division 1 Section	Gov Code Section	PRC Section	HSC Section
  Section	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title
  Chapter 2	Definitions	Definitions	Definitions	Definitions	Definitions	Definitions	Definitions	Definitions	Definitions	Definitions
  	Multilayered glazed panels	Y
  	Noncombustible roof covering	Y
  	Outbuilding (T14)	Y				1299.02(c)
  	Peer review	Y
  	Rafter tail	Y		702A
  	Registered design professional	Y
  	Residential unit (T14)	Y				1270.01(w)
  	Ridgeline (topography) (T14)	Y				1270.01(x)
  	Road (T14)	Y				1270.

• CWUIC § 6-4 Medium relevance — show source text

  structure.

  6-4 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE

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  FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS

  SECTION 604—MAINTENANCE OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE

  604.1 General. Hazardous vegetation and fuels shall be managed to reduce the severity of potential exterior wildfire exposure to build- ings and to reduce the risk of fire spreading to buildings as required by applicable laws and regulations.

  Defensible space shall be managed around all buildings and structures in State Responsibility Areas (SRA) as required in Public Resources Code 4291.

  604.2 Application. Buildings and structures located in the following areas shall maintain the required hazardous vegetation and fuel management: 1. All unincorporated lands designated as a State Responsibility Area (SRA). 2. Land designated as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone by a city or local agency. 3. Land designated in a city or local agency ordinance as a wildland-urban interface (WUI) area.

  604.3 Requirements. Hazardous vegetation and fuels around all buildings and structures shall be maintained in accordance with the following laws and regulations: 1. Public Resources Code, Section 4291.

  2. California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 3, Article 3, Section 1299.03. 3. California Government Code, Section 51182.

  4. California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 7, Subchapter 1, Section 3.07.

  604.4 Outbuildings. Outbuildings shall have a minimum clearance of 10 feet (3048 mm) down to bare mineral soil in all directions. Vege- tation more than 10 feet (3048 mm) but less than 20 feet (6096 mm) from outbuildings shall be fire-smart vegetation.

  604.5 Disposal of flammable vegetation and fuels. The disposal, including burning or removal to a site approved by the local jurisdic- tion in consultation with the fire authority, of flammable vegetation and fuels caused by site, road and driveway construction shall be in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. [CCR T14 §1276.05]

  SECTION 605—SPARK ARRESTORS

  605.1 General. Chimneys serving fireplaces, barbecues, incinerators or decorative heating appliances in which solid or liquid fuel is used shall be provided with a spark arrestor. Spark arrestors shall be constructed of woven or welded wire screening of 12 USA standard gage wire (0.1046 inch) (2.66 mm) having openings not exceeding [1] / 2 inch (12.7 mm).

  605.2 Net free area. The net free area of the spark arrestor shall be not less than four times the net free area of the outlet of the chimney.

  SECTION 606—LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS INSTALLATIONS

  606.1 General. The storage of liquefied petroleum gas (LP-gas) and the installation and maintenance of pertinent equipment shall be in accordance with the California Fire Code .

  606.2 Location of containers or tanks. LP-gas containers or tanks shall be located within the defensible space in accordance with the California Fire Code .

• CWUIC § 4.1 Medium relevance — show source text

  4|Combustible
  materials|N||||||||| |A105.4.1|Individual piles|N||||||||| |A105.4.2|Separation|N||||||||| |A106|Dumping|N||||||||| |A106.1|Waste material|N||||||||| |A106.2|Ashes and coals|N||||||||| |A107|Protection of pumps
  and water storage
  facilities|N||||||||| |A107.1|General|N||||||||| |A107.2|Objective|N||||||||| |A107.3|Fuel modification
  area|N||||||||| |A107.4|Trees|N||||||||| |A107.5|Protection of electri-
  cal power supplies|N||||||||| |A108|Land use limitations|N||||||||| |A108.1|General|N||||||||| |A108.2|Objective|N||||||||| |A108.3|Permits|N||||||||| |A108.4|Access roadways|N||||||||| |A109|Referenced standards|N||||||||| |A109.1|General|N|||||||||

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  APPENDIX H—REFERENCED CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTS

  2025 CWUIC—continued	Col2	Adopted Yes/No	IWUIC Section	CBC Section	CFC Section	Title 14, Division 1.5 Section	Title 19, Division 1 Section	Gov Code Section	PRC Section	HSC Section
  Section	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title	Title
  Appendix B	Vegetation management plan	Vegetation management plan	Vegetation management plan	Vegetation management plan	Vegetation management plan	Vegetation management plan	Vegetation management plan	Vegetation management plan	Vegetation management plan	Vegetation management plan
  B101	General	N
  B101.1	Scope	N
  B101.2	Plan content	N
  B101.3	Fuel modification	N
  Appendix C	Community Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework	Community Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework	Community Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework	Community Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework	Community Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework	Community Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework	Community Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework	Community Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework	**_Community Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI)

• CWUIC § 1-4 Medium relevance — show source text

  1.11 Office of the State Fire Marshal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4

  1.12 Board of Forestry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10

  DIVISION II SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15

  PART 1—GENERAL PROVISIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15

  101 Scope and General Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15

  102 Applicability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16

  PART 2—ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17

  103 Code Compliance Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17

  104 Duties and Powers of the Code Official . . . . . . . . . 1-17

  105 Permits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19

  106 Construction Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20

  107 Temporary Uses, Equipment and Systems . . . . . . 1-21

  108 Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21

  109 Inspection and Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22

  110 Certificate of Completion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24

  111 Service Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24

  112 Means of Appeals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24

  113 Stop Work Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25

  CHAPTER 2 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

  201 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3

  202 Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3

  CHAPTER 3 WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREAS . . . . 3-3

• CWUIC § 1-21 Medium relevance — show source text

  107 Temporary Uses, Equipment and Systems . . . . . . 1-21

  108 Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21

  109 Inspection and Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22

  110 Certificate of Completion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24

  111 Service Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24

  112 Means of Appeals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24

  113 Stop Work Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25

  CHAPTER 2 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

  201 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3

  202 Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3

  CHAPTER 3 WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREAS . . . . 3-3

  301 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-3

  302 Wildland-Urban Interface Area Designations . . . . . .3-3

  CHAPTER 4 WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREA

  REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3

  401 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3

  402 Applicability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3

  403 Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3

  404 Water Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-7

  CHAPTER 5 SPECIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

  REGULATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3

  501 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3

• CWUIC § 603.4.1 Medium relevance — show source text

  603.4.1 Shrubs. All new plantings of shrubs shall comply with the following: 1. Shrubs shall not exceed 6 feet (1829 mm) in height. 2. Groupings of shrubs are limited to a maximum aggregate diameter of 10 feet (3048 mm). 3. Shrub groupings shall be separated from other groupings a minimum of 15 feet (4572 mm). 4. Shrub groupings shall be separated from structures a minimum of 30 feet (9144 mm). 5. Where shrubs are located below or within a tree’s drip line, the lowest tree branch shall be a minimum of three times the height of the understory shrubs or 10 feet (3048 mm), whichever is greater.

  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 drip line at maturity is a minimum of 10 feet (3048 mm) from any combustible structure. 2. The horizontal distance between crowns of new trees and 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 outlets per California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 1299.03.

  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 in accordance with one of the following: 1. The tree is planted so that the tree’s drip line at maturity is a minimum of 30 feet (9144 mm) from an applicable building. 2. The tree is planted so that the tree’s drip line at maturity is a minimum of 10 feet (3048 mm) from any combustible struc- ture, and is well pruned and maintained so as not to form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from other nearby vegetation to the structure or from the structure to nearby vegetation or to interrupt the advance of embers toward a

  structure.

  6-4 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE

  on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

  FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS

  SECTION 604—MAINTENANCE OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE

  604.1 General. Hazardous vegetation and fuels shall be managed to reduce the severity of potential exterior wildfire exposure to build- ings and to reduce the risk of fire spreading to buildings as required by applicable laws and regulations.

  Defensible space shall be managed around all buildings and structures in State Responsibility Areas (SRA) as required in Public Resources Code 4291.

  604.2 Application. Buildings and structures located in the following areas shall maintain the required hazardous vegetation and fuel management: 1. All unincorporated lands designated as a State Responsibility Area (SRA). 2. Land designated as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone by a city or local agency. 3. Land designated in a city or local agency ordinance as a wildland-urban interface (WUI) area.