CWUIC · California Wildland-Urban Interface Code
Model Ordinance — Fire Hazard Severity Zone Adoption (Appendix D)
Appendix D provides a model ordinance (D101) and guidance for local adoption, mapping, and periodic review of Fire Hazard Severity Zones and links those designations to CWUIC mitigation and construction requirements.
Last reviewed: July 6, 2026
Overview
Appendix D of the California Wildland‑Urban Interface Code provides a model ordinance — Section D101 — that jurisdictions can use as guidance to designate Fire Hazard Severity Zones (moderate, high, very high) within their Local Responsibility Areas. Appendix D is informational (not itself adopted by the State Fire Marshal) and is presented as a sample ordinance cities, counties, and fire districts can tailor and adopt locally.
The ordinance material in Appendix D connects directly to the mapping and review procedures in Chapter 3 (see §302.1 on mapping and §302.2 on periodic review), and to state statutes and regulations that govern zone designation (e.g., Government Code §§51175–51189 and Public Resources Code §§4201–4204). Those cross‑references explain how the State Fire Marshal’s statewide zone recommendations are provided to local agencies and the timeframes for local adoption and five‑year reviews.
Adopting the model ordinance links land‑use and building provisions across the CWUIC — for example, Chapter 5 (construction standards for buildings in hazard zones) and Chapter 6 (fire protection and defensible space in LRAs designated Very High FHZ) — so local adoption affects both mapping and enforceable mitigation requirements.
In this section
Code references
Grounded in the retrieved California Wildland-Urban Interface Code — click a citation to read the verbatim passage:
CWUIC § 102.4 High relevance — show source text
The chapter includes mitigation strategies to reduce the hazards of fire originating within a structure spreading to wildland and fire originating in wildland spreading to structures.
Chapter 7 Referenced Standards.
Chapter 7 lists all of the product and installation standards and codes that are referenced throughout Chapters 1 through 6 and includes identification of the promulgators and the section numbers in which the standards and codes are referenced. As stated in Section 102.4, these standards and codes become an enforceable part of the code (to the prescribed extent of the reference) as if printed in the body of the code.
Appendix A General Requirements.
Appendix A, while not part of the code, can become part of the code when specifically included in the adopting ordinance. Its purpose is to provide fire-protection measures supplemental to those found in Chapter 6 to reduce the threat of wildfire in a wildland-urban interface area and improve the capability for controlling such fires. This appendix includes detailed requirements for vegetation control; the code official’s authority to close wildland-interface areas in times of high fire danger; control of fires, fireworks usage and other sources of ignition; storage of hazardous materials and combustibles; bans on the dumping of waste materials and ashes and coals in wildlandurban interface areas; protection of pumps and water supplies; and limits on temporary uses within the wildland-urban interface area.
Appendix B Vegetation Management Plan.
Appendix B, while not part of the code, can become part of the code when specifically included in the adopting ordinance. Its purpose is to provide criteria for submitting vegetation management plans, specifying their content and establishing a criterion for considering vegetation management as being a fuel modification.
Appendix C Community Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework.
Appendix C contains a preliminary Community WUI Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework as a suggested methodology to begin to support communities at risk in the identification of their unique hazards and to provide common metrics for comparisons between communities. This preliminary framework includes information on community size, population and fuels; on notification and evacuation; and on the community infrastructure and firefighting response potential. Aspects of this framework may already be included in various community- level documents, such as Community Wildfire Protection Plans or evacuation plans. Development of a standard framework will (1) consolidate relevant WUI fire hazard and planning information in one place, and (2) allow for cross-community comparisons.
The evaluation required to implement this framework will support prefire hazard assessment and during-fire response operations. An increased understanding of fire evacuation, fire structural response and fire defensive action relationships is needed to assess the over- all community WUI fire hazard. The quantification of these relationships will enable communities to optimize the community-level response to WUI fire hazards in a more integrated approach and result in increased life safety and reduced losses.
Appendix D Model Ordinance for Fire Hazard Severity Zone Adoption.
Appendix D is an informational appendix that is a sample ordinance designed as guidance for a city, county, city and county, or fire district to establish and designate fire hazard severity zones within their jurisdiction.
Appendix E Reserved.
Appendix F Characteristics of Fire-Smart Vegetation.
Appendix F is an informational appendix provided for the convenience of the code user. It is simply a compilation of the eight characteristics of fire-smart vegetation that can be used effectively within wildland-urban interface areas to reduce the likelihood of fire spread through vegetation.
**App
CWUIC § D101 High relevance — show source text
D MODEL ORDINANCE FOR FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE ADOPTION
This appendix is for informational purposes and is not intended for adoption.
User notes:
About this appendix: Appendix D is an informational appendix that is a sample ordinance designed as guidance for a city, county, city and county, or fire district to establish and designate fire hazard severity zones within their jurisdiction.
SECTION D101—MODEL ORDINANCE FOR DESIGNATION OF FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES IN LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREAS (LRA)
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E RESERVED
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CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE
APPENDIX F – CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRE-SMART VEGETATION
(Matrix Adoption Tables are nonregulatory, intended only as an aid to the code user. See Chapter 1 for state agency authority and building applications.)
Adopting Agency BSC BSC-
CGSFM Col5 HCD Col7 Col8 DSA Col10 OSHPD Col12 Col13 Col14 Col15 Col16 BSCC DPH AGR DWR CEC CA SL SLC Adopting Agency BSC BSC-
CGT-24 T-19* 1 2 1/AC AC SS 1 1R 2 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Adopt Entire Chapter Adopt Entire Chapter as
amended (amended sections
listed below)X Adopt only those sections that
are listed below[California Code of Regulations,
Title 19, Division 1]Chapter / Section F101.1 X CWUIC § 1.11. High relevance — show source text
- The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 19, Division 1 provisions that are found in the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code are a reprint from the current CCR, Title 19, Division 1 text for the code user’s convenience only. The scope, applicability and appeals procedures of CCR, Title 19, Division I remain the same. The state agency does not adopt sections identified by the following symbol: The Office of the State Fire Marshal’s adoption of this chapter or individual sections is applicable to structures regulated by other state agencies pursuant to Section 1.11.
The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, Division 1.5 provisions that are found in the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code are not listed in the Matrix Adoption Tables as they are not within the State Fire Marshal’s authority to adopt. These provisions are a reprint from the current CCR, Title 14, Division 1.5 text for the code user’s convenience only and are identified in the body of the code by square brackets containing references to applicable Title 14 sections.
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D MODEL ORDINANCE FOR FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE ADOPTION
This appendix is for informational purposes and is not intended for adoption.
User notes:
About this appendix: Appendix D is an informational appendix that is a sample ordinance designed as guidance for a city, county, city and county, or fire district to establish and designate fire hazard severity zones within their jurisdiction.
SECTION D101—MODEL ORDINANCE FOR DESIGNATION OF FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES IN LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREAS (LRA)
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E RESERVED
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CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE
APPENDIX F – CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRE-SMART VEGETATION
(Matrix Adoption Tables are nonregulatory, intended only as an aid to the code user. See Chapter 1 for state agency authority and building applications.)
CWUIC § 2025 High relevance — show source text
A104 Ignition Source Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX A-5
A105 Control of Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX A-5
A106 Dumping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX A-6
A107 Protection of Pumps and Water Storage Facilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX A-6
A108 Land Use Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX A-6
A109 Referenced Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX A-7
APPENDIX B VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX B-3
B101 General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX B-3
APPENDIX C COMMUNITY WILDLAND-URBAN
INTERFACE (WUI) FIRE HAZARD
EVALUATION FRAMEWORK . . . . APPENDIX C-3
C101 Community WUI Hazard Evaluation Framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX C-3
APPENDIX D MODEL ORDINANCE FOR FIRE HAZARD
SEVERITY ZONE ADOPTION . . . . APPENDIX D-3
D101 Model Ordinance for Designation of Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX D-3
APPENDIX E RESERVED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX E-1
APPENDIX F CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRE-SMART
VEGETATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX F-3
F101 General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX F-3
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CONTENTS
APPENDIX G VOLUNTARY HOME-HARDENING
RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX G-3
G101 General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX G-3
APPENDIX H REFERENCED CALIFORNIA
DOCUMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .APPENDIX H-3
CWUIC § 1-3 High relevance — show source text
Appendix C contains a preliminary Community WUI Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework as a suggested methodology to begin to support communities at risk in the identification of their unique hazards and to provide common metrics for comparisons between communities. This preliminary framework includes information on community size, population and fuels; on notification and evacuation; and on the community infrastructure and firefighting response potential. Aspects of this framework may already be included in various community- level documents, such as Community Wildfire Protection Plans or evacuation plans. Development of a standard framework will (1) consolidate relevant WUI fire hazard and planning information in one place, and (2) allow for cross-community comparisons.
The evaluation required to implement this framework will support prefire hazard assessment and during-fire response operations. An increased understanding of fire evacuation, fire structural response and fire defensive action relationships is needed to assess the over- all community WUI fire hazard. The quantification of these relationships will enable communities to optimize the community-level response to WUI fire hazards in a more integrated approach and result in increased life safety and reduced losses.
Appendix D Model Ordinance for Fire Hazard Severity Zone Adoption.
Appendix D is an informational appendix that is a sample ordinance designed as guidance for a city, county, city and county, or fire district to establish and designate fire hazard severity zones within their jurisdiction.
Appendix E Reserved.
Appendix F Characteristics of Fire-Smart Vegetation.
Appendix F is an informational appendix provided for the convenience of the code user. It is simply a compilation of the eight characteristics of fire-smart vegetation that can be used effectively within wildland-urban interface areas to reduce the likelihood of fire spread through vegetation.
Appendix G Voluntary Home-Hardening Recommendations.
Appendix G is an informational appendix that provides discussion of some elements of the proposed self-defense mechanisms and their role in enhancing the protection of exposed structures in the wildland-urban interface. The items provided in this appendix provide owners with suggestions for increasing the survivability of their structure. These items are not mandatory but can be considered by owners to increase the safety of structures.
Appendix H Referenced California Documents.
Appendix H contains portions of California statutes and regulations located in other documents. They are reprinted in Appendix H to aid the user in understanding the requirements applicable to wildland-urban interface areas and to provide a background for the provi- sions. Much of the text in the CWUIC is based on the requirements found in these other documents.
Appendix I Board of Appeals.
Appendix I contains the provisions for appeal and the establishment of a board of appeals. The provisions include the application for an appeal, the makeup of the board of appeals and the conduct of the appeal process.
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 ADMINISTRATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3
DIVISION I CALIFORNIA ADMINISTRATION
1.1 General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
CWUIC § 102.4 High relevance — show source text
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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The chapter includes mitigation strategies to reduce the hazards of fire originating within a structure spreading to wildland and fire originating in wildland spreading to structures.
Chapter 7 Referenced Standards.
Chapter 7 lists all of the product and installation standards and codes that are referenced throughout Chapters 1 through 6 and includes identification of the promulgators and the section numbers in which the standards and codes are referenced. As stated in Section 102.4, these standards and codes become an enforceable part of the code (to the prescribed extent of the reference) as if printed in the body of the code.
Appendix A General Requirements.
Appendix A, while not part of the code, can become part of the code when specifically included in the adopting ordinance. Its purpose is to provide fire-protection measures supplemental to those found in Chapter 6 to reduce the threat of wildfire in a wildland-urban interface area and improve the capability for controlling such fires. This appendix includes detailed requirements for vegetation control; the code official’s authority to close wildland-interface areas in times of high fire danger; control of fires, fireworks usage and other sources of ignition; storage of hazardous materials and combustibles; bans on the dumping of waste materials and ashes and coals in wildlandurban interface areas; protection of pumps and water supplies; and limits on temporary uses within the wildland-urban interface area.
Appendix B Vegetation Management Plan.
Appendix B, while not part of the code, can become part of the code when specifically included in the adopting ordinance. Its purpose is to provide criteria for submitting vegetation management plans, specifying their content and establishing a criterion for considering vegetation management as being a fuel modification.
Appendix C Community Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework.
CWUIC § 1.11. High relevance — show source text
APPENDIX D – MODEL ORDINANCE FOR FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE ADOPTION
(Matrix Adoption Tables are nonregulatory, intended only as an aid to the code user. See Chapter 1 for state agency authority and building applications.)
(Not adopted by the State Fire Marshal)
Adopting Agency BSC BSC-
CGSFM Col5 HCD Col7 Col8 DSA Col10 OSHPD Col12 Col13 Col14 Col15 Col16 BSCC DPH AGR DWR CEC CA SL SLC Adopting Agency BSC BSC-
CGT-24 T-19* 1 2 1/AC AC SS 1 1R 2 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Adopt Entire Chapter Adopt Entire Chapter as
amended (amended sections
listed below)Adopt only those sections that
are listed below[California Code of Regulations,
Title 19, Division 1]Chapter / Section - The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 19, Division 1 provisions that are found in the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code are a reprint from the current CCR, Title 19, Division 1 text for the code user’s convenience only. The scope, applicability and appeals procedures of CCR, Title 19, Division I remain the same. The state agency does not adopt sections identified by the following symbol: The Office of the State Fire Marshal’s adoption of this chapter or individual sections is applicable to structures regulated by other state agencies pursuant to Section 1.11.
The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, Division 1.5 provisions that are found in the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code are not listed in the Matrix Adoption Tables as they are not within the State Fire Marshal’s authority to adopt. These provisions are a reprint from the current CCR, Title 14, Division 1.5 text for the code user’s convenience only and are identified in the body of the code by square brackets containing references to applicable Title 14 sections.
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D MODEL ORDINANCE FOR FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE ADOPTION
This appendix is for informational purposes and is not intended for adoption.
User notes:
California Wildland-Urban Interface Code High relevance — show source text
(e) The State Fire Marshal shall prepare and adopt a model ordinance that provides for the establishment of very high fire hazard severity zones. (f) Any ordinance adopted by a local agency pursuant to this section that substantially conforms to the model ordinance of the State Fire Marshal shall be presumed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section. (g) A local agency shall post a notice at the office of the county recorder, county assessor, and county planning agency identifying the location of the map provided by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178. If the agency amends the map, pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of this section, the notice shall instead identify the location of the amended map. 51181. The State Fire Marshal shall periodically review the areas in the state identified as very high fire hazard severity zones pursuant to this chapter, and as necessary, shall make recommendations relative to very high fire hazard severity zones. This review shall coincide with the review of state responsibility area lands every five years and, when possible, fall within the time frames for each county’s general plan update. Any revision of areas included in a very high fire hazard severity zone shall be made in accordance with Sections 51178 and 51179.
51182. The State Fire Marshal shall periodically review the areas in the state identified as very high fire hazard severity zones pursuant to this chapter, and as necessary, shall make recommendations relative to very high fire hazard severity zones. This review shall coincide with the review of state responsibility area lands every five years and, when possible, fall within the time frames for each county’s general plan update. Any revision of areas included in a very high fire hazard severity zone shall be made in accordance with Sections 51178 and 51179.
(a) A person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains an occupied dwelling or occupied structure in, upon, or adjoining a mountainous area, forest-covered land, shrub-covered land, grass-covered land, or land that is covered with flammable mate- rial, which area or land is within a very high fire hazard severity zone designated by the local agency pursuant to Section 51179, shall at all times do all of the following: (1) (A) Maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure, but not beyond the property line except as provided in subparagraph (B). The amount of fuel modification necessary shall consider the flammability of the structure as affected by building material, building standards, location, and type of vegetation. Fuels shall be maintained and spaced in a condition so that a wildfire burning under average weather conditions would be unlikely to ignite the structure. This subparagraph does not apply to single specimens of trees or other vege- tation that are well-pruned and maintained so as to effectively manage fuels and not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from other nearby vegetation to a structure or from a structure to other nearby vegetation or to interrupt the advance of embers toward a structure. The intensity of fuels management may vary within the 100-foot perimeter of the structure, with more intense fuel reductions being used between 5 and 30 feet around the structure, and an ember-resistant zone being required within 5 feet of the structure, based on regulations promulgated by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, in consultation with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, to consider the _elimination of materials in the ember-resistant zone that would likely be ignited by embers.
CWUIC § 2025 Medium relevance — show source text
through-flow number_|Y/N, identify, number|| |INFRASTRUCTURE / COOP / COG|INFRASTRUCTURE / COOP / COG|INFRASTRUCTURE / COOP / COG| |Location and needs of key facilities|List|x| |Public water, dependence on power, generator backup, community owned water|Y/N, Y/N, Y/N, Y/N|| |Power lines around primary arteries (above ground or below)|Above or below|x| |Critical infrastructure that requires fuel to keep operating|Specify, GIS layer|x| |FIREFIGHTING RESPONSE|FIREFIGHTING RESPONSE|FIREFIGHTING RESPONSE| |Volunteer vs career (availability of first responder resources at station)|Volunteer/career/combination|| |Density of firefighting (ff) responder to number of structures|ff/structures ratio|| |Mutual aid response (engines-hours histogram) and agreements with mutual aid|Engines-hours histogram||
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CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE
APPENDIX D – MODEL ORDINANCE FOR FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE ADOPTION
(Matrix Adoption Tables are nonregulatory, intended only as an aid to the code user. See Chapter 1 for state agency authority and building applications.)
(Not adopted by the State Fire Marshal)
Adopting Agency BSC BSC-
CGSFM Col5 HCD Col7 Col8 DSA Col10 OSHPD Col12 Col13 Col14 Col15 Col16 BSCC DPH AGR DWR CEC CA SL SLC Adopting Agency BSC BSC-
CGT-24 T-19* 1 2 1/AC AC SS 1 1R 2 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Adopt Entire Chapter Adopt Entire Chapter as
amended (amended sections
listed below)Adopt only those sections that
are listed below[California Code of Regulations,
Title 19, Division 1]Chapter / Section CWUIC § 51178 Medium relevance — show source text
(2) A local agency may, at its discretion, include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones, respectively. (3) A local agency shall not decrease the level of fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal for any area within the jurisdiction of the local agency, and, in exercising its discretion pursuant to paragraph (2), may only increase the level of fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal for any area within the jurisdiction of the local
agency. (c) The local agency shall transmit a copy of an ordinance adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within 30 days of adoption. (d) Changes made by a local agency to the recommendations made by the State Fire Marshal shall be final and shall not be rebut- table by the State Fire Marshal.
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APPENDIX H—REFERENCED CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTS
(e) The State Fire Marshal shall prepare and adopt a model ordinance that provides for the establishment of very high fire hazard severity zones. (f) Any ordinance adopted by a local agency pursuant to this section that substantially conforms to the model ordinance of the State Fire Marshal shall be presumed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section. (g) A local agency shall post a notice at the office of the county recorder, county assessor, and county planning agency identifying the location of the map provided by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178. If the agency amends the map, pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of this section, the notice shall instead identify the location of the amended map. 51181. The State Fire Marshal shall periodically review the areas in the state identified as very high fire hazard severity zones pursuant to this chapter, and as necessary, shall make recommendations relative to very high fire hazard severity zones. This review shall coincide with the review of state responsibility area lands every five years and, when possible, fall within the time frames for each county’s general plan update. Any revision of areas included in a very high fire hazard severity zone shall be made in accordance with Sections 51178 and 51179.
51182. The State Fire Marshal shall periodically review the areas in the state identified as very high fire hazard severity zones pursuant to this chapter, and as necessary, shall make recommendations relative to very high fire hazard severity zones. This review shall coincide with the review of state responsibility area lands every five years and, when possible, fall within the time frames for each county’s general plan update. Any revision of areas included in a very high fire hazard severity zone shall be made in accordance with Sections 51178 and 51179.
CWUIC § 1.5 Medium relevance — show source text
The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, Division 1.5 provisions that are found in the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code are not listed in the Matrix Adoption Tables as they are not within the State Fire Marshal’s authority to adopt. These provisions are a reprint from the current CCR, Title 14, Division 1.5 text for the code user’s convenience only and are identified in the body of the code by square brackets containing references to applicable Title 14 sections.
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3 WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREAS
User notes:
About this chapter: Chapter 3 provides for the fundamental aspect of applying the code—the legal declaration and establishment of wildlandurban interface areas within the adopting jurisdiction, mapping of the area, periodic review and updates.
SECTION 301—GENERAL
301.1 Scope. The provisions of this chapter provide methodology to establish and record wildland-urban interface areas in accor- dance with California Public Resources Code (PRC) and California Government Code (GC).
301.2 Purpose . The purpose of this chapter is to classify lands in the state in accordance with the level of fire hazard present for the purpose of identifying measures that will retard the rate of spread and reduce the potential intensity of uncontrolled fires that threaten to destroy resources, life or property, and to require that those measures be taken.
SECTION 302—WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREA DESIGNATIONS
302.1 Mapping . The State Fire Marshal shall classify lands into Fire Hazard Severity Zones in accordance with California Public Resources Code, Sections 4201 through 4204 for State Responsibility Areas and in accordance with Government Code, Sections 51175 through 51189 for Local Responsibility Areas. The State Fire Marshal shall designate areas in the state as fire hazard severity zones and assign each zone based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Each fire hazard severity zone shall embrace relatively homogeneous lands, and the classification shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread and other areas designated by the enforcing agency to be at a significant risk from wildfires.
302.2 Review of wildland-urban interface areas. The code official shall reevaluate and recommend modification to the wildlandurban interface areas in accordance with Section 302.1 on a 5-year basis or more frequently as deemed necessary by the legislative body. The State Fire Marshal shall periodically review the areas in the state identified as fire hazard severity zones and, as necessary, shall make recommendations relative to fire hazard severity zones. This review shall coincide with the review of state responsibility area lands every five years and, when possible, fall within the time frames for the county’s general plan update.
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CWUIC § 11340.6 Medium relevance — show source text
4203.
(a) The State Fire Marshal shall, by regulation, designate fire hazard severity zones and assign to each zone a rating reflecting the degree of severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in the zone. (b) No designation of a zone and assignment of a rating shall be adopted by the State Fire Marshal until the proposed regulation has been transmitted to the board of supervisors of the county in which the zone is located at least 45 days before the adoption of the proposed regulation and a public hearing has been held in that county during that 45-day period. 4204. The State Fire Marshal shall periodically review zones designated and rated pursuant to this article and, as necessary, shall revise zones or their ratings or repeal the designation of zones. Any revision of a zone or its rating or any repeal of a zone shall conform to the requirements of Section 4203. In addition, the revision or repeal of a zone may be petitioned pursuant to Sections 11340.6 and 11340.7 of the Government Code.
4290.
(a) The board shall adopt regulations implementing minimum fire safety standards related to defensible space that are applicable to state responsibility area lands under the authority of the department, and to lands classified and designated as very high fire hazard severity zones, as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 51177 of the Government Code. These regulations apply to the perimeters and access to all residential, commercial, and industrial building construction within state responsibility areas approved after January 1, 1991, and within lands classified and designated as very high fire hazard severity zones, as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 51177 of the Government Code after July 1, 2021. The board may not adopt building standards, as defined in Section 18909 of the Health and Safety Code, under the authority of this section. As an integral part of fire safety stan- dards, the State Fire Marshal has the authority to adopt regulations for roof coverings and openings into the attic areas of buildings specified in Section 13108.5 of the Health and Safety Code. The regulations apply to the placement of mobile homes as defined by National Fire Protection Association standards. These regulations do not apply where an application for a build- ing permit was filed prior to January 1, 1991, or to parcel or tentative maps or other developments approved prior to January 1, 1991, if the final map for the tentative map is approved within the time prescribed by the local ordinance. The regulations shall include all of the following: (1) Road standards for fire equipment access. (2) Standards for signs identifying streets, roads, and buildings. (3) Minimum private water supply reserves for emergency fire use. (4) Fuel breaks and greenbelts. (b) The board shall, on and after July 1, 2021, periodically update regulations for fuel breaks and greenbelts near communities to provide greater fire safety for the perimeters to all residential, commercial, and industrial building construction within state responsibility areas and lands classified and designated as very high fire hazard severity zones, as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 51177 of the Government Code, after July 1, 2021. These regulations shall include measures to preserve undeveloped
APPENDIX H-6 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
APPENDIX H—REFERENCED CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTS
Frequently asked questions
Who should use Appendix D’s model ordinance?
Local legislative bodies and fire agencies (cities, counties, city‑and‑counties, and fire districts) should use Appendix D as a drafting template to establish and record Fire Hazard Severity Zones in their jurisdiction; Appendix D is expressly prepared as guidance rather than mandatory text.
How does local adoption interact with State maps and timing?
The State Fire Marshal issues recommended zone maps; a local agency must designate zones by ordinance within the statutory timeframe after receiving those recommendations and must make maps available for public review — local changes may increase but may not decrease a zone level set by the State except as expressly allowed by statute. See the mapping and review requirements in §302.1–§302.2 and the Government Code provisions on local designation.
If a city adopts the model ordinance, what parts of the CWUIC become relevant locally?
When a jurisdiction adopts a fire hazard severity ordinance, related CWUIC chapters and appendices become relevant for implementation — notably the construction standards in Chapter 5 and the LRA fire protection requirements in Chapter 6 (including defensible space and subdivision review provisions).
More in California Wildland-Urban Interface Code
- Administration and Definitions
- Board of Appeals, Administration & Enforcement (permits, code official duties, appeals process)
- Wildland‑Urban Interface Area Designation & Mapping
- Fire Service Access & Water Supply (fire apparatus roads, driveways, hydrants, draft sites, standby power)
- Wildland‑Urban Interface Area Requirements (access, water, premises identification, key boxes)
- Referenced Standards & Test Methods
- Special Building Construction Regulations (ignition‑resistant construction, roof/vent/assembly requirements)
- Appendices and Model Ordinances (vegetation plans, severity‑zone adoption, home‑hardening guidance)
- Fire Protection Requirements (fire protection plans, systems, safety element provisions)
- Referenced California Documents & Matrix (CCR/Title 14 & 19 cross‑references, statutory references)
- Vegetation Management & Defensible Space (vegetation plans, maintenance, fire‑smart characteristics)
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Vegetation Management Plans (Appendix B & landscape plans)
Fire‑Smart Vegetation & Fuel‑Modification Standards
Voluntary Home‑Hardening & Defensible Space (Appendix G)
Appendices and Model Ordinances (vegetation plans, severity‑zone adoption, home‑hardening guidance)
California Wildland-Urban Interface Code