CWUIC · California Wildland-Urban Interface Code

What are fire‑safe development regulations and subdivision map findings?

If your property is inside a State Responsibility Area or a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, the county cannot approve a new subdivision map until it finds the map meets the State’s SRA Fire Safe Development Regulations and that adequate fire protection services exist — and those findings and the map must be sent to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (CWUIC **§ 610.1** and **§ 610.2**).

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Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

What the code requires — 2–4 sentences

The California Wildland‑Urban Interface Code (CWUIC) requires that new building construction within State Responsibility Areas (SRA) and within Local Responsibility Area Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (LRA VHFHSZ) comply with the State SRA Fire Safe Development Regulations (see § 610.1). Before approving a tentative map or a parcel map for land in those areas, a county legislative body must make written findings that the map complies with the SRA Fire Safe Regulations and that structural fire protection and suppression services are available, and must transmit the findings and map to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (see § 610.2). § 610 gives the CWUIC authority and cross‑references the Title 14 SRA rules that contain the detailed development standards.

Before a county approves a tentative or parcel map in an SRA or LRA VHFHSZ, it must find the map meets the State’s SRA Fire Safe Regulations and that adequate structural fire protection exists, and must send those findings and the map to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Requirements in detail

Applicability (who/where)

  • Applies to all new residential, commercial, and industrial building construction within SRA approved after January 1, 1991, and to construction in LRA VHFHSZ after July 1, 2021, which must comply with the SRA regulations in Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2 (referenced by § 610.1).
  • For tentative maps or parcel maps located in an SRA or an LRA VHFHSZ, the county legislative body must make the findings required by § 610.2 before map approval.

What the required findings must address

  • The map’s compliance with the SRA Fire Safe Regulations (State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations found in Title 14). § 610.2 specifically requires a finding on this point.
  • The availability of structural fire protection and suppression services for the proposed development; the county must evaluate and make a finding about that availability. § 610.2.

Procedural steps the code establishes

  • The required findings and accompanying map must be transmitted to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, and must comply with the procedural requirements in Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 1, Article 1 (see § 610.2).
  • Title 14 Subchapter provisions (reprinted/referenced in the CWUIC) also require local jurisdictions to provide notice of building permit and map applications to CAL FIRE and allow the Director/designee to review and recommend—see the provisions for application and review (Title 14 §1270.04) and local regulations (Title 14 §1270.05).

Decision‑relevant dimensions (quick reference table)

Decision dimension Threshold / Value Who evaluates / decides Code Reference
Geographic applicability Located in SRA or LRA VHFHSZ County (legislative body) determines applicability; maps by State Fire Marshal establish zones § 610.2
Timing of mandatory compliance Building construction approved after Jan 1, 1991 (SRA); LRA VHFHSZ rules after July 1, 2021 Permit‑issuing authority / local jurisdiction § 610.1
Required findings Compliance with SRA Fire Safe Regulations; availability of structural fire protection/suppression County legislative body must make written findings before approving tentative/parcel map § 610.2
Transmission requirement Findings + accompanying map must be sent to Board of Forestry and Fire Protection County (legislative body) sends documents § 610.2
Substantive standards referenced Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2 (SRA Fire Safe Development Regulations: roads, signs, water, fuel breaks, etc.) Local jurisdictions apply and may add equal/stricter local rules § 610.1 and Title 14 provisions

Exceptions & special cases

  • GC § 66474.02(c) exception: § 610.2 notes an exception contained in Government Code § 66474.02(c). The CWUIC references the exception but does not reproduce its text; consult the Government Code for the exact scope of that exception. Do not assume the exception is broad without reading GC § 66474.02(c).
  • Pre‑1991 approvals: the Title 14 SRA Subchapter text (reprinted in the CWUIC appendices) explains that Subchapter 2 generally does not apply where an application for building permit or parcel/tentative map was filed (or approved) prior to January 1, 1991, to the extent previously imposed conditions address perimeters and access; consult the Title 14 provisions for the specific grandfathering rules. The CWUIC references these Title 14 provisions (see Title 14 §1270.04).

If you need the precise language of GC § 66474.02(c) or the full Title 14 grandfathering rules, those texts were not reproduced in full in the CWUIC excerpts here; you should consult the Government Code and Title 14 directly for the exact wording.

Common mistakes

  • Treating the map finding as a formality — the code requires an explicit written finding about both SRA regulatory compliance and availability of structural fire protection before map approval (§ 610.2). Skipping or making conclusory findings invites appeal and regulatory review.
  • Failing to check which map/zoning applies — developers and local staff sometimes assume “wildfire rules don’t apply” without confirming whether the site falls in an SRA or a State‑mapped LRA VHFHSZ; the CWUIC cross‑references the State Fire Marshal’s maps.
  • Not transmitting findings to the Board — the statute requires transmission of the findings and accompanying map to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection; omission defeats the procedural requirement in § 610.2.
  • Relying on local regulations that do not truly “equal or exceed” the State minimums — Title 14 and the CWUIC explain that local rules must fully comply with the corresponding State minimum to be treated as equal/greater; partial conformity is not enough.

Worked example — concrete scenario

Scenario: A county is reviewing a tentative map for a 20‑lot residential subdivision located inside a State‑mapped LRA Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (map updated in 2023). The developer’s building permits will be applied for after 2024.

Steps the county must take under CWUIC:

  1. Confirm applicability: because the project is in an LRA VHFHSZ, the State’s SRA Fire Safe Development Regulations apply to building construction and the map review requirement applies under § 610.1 and § 610.2.
  2. Evaluate the tentative map for: (a) compliance with the SRA Fire Safe Regulations (roads and fire equipment access, water supply for fire use, signage, defensible perimeter/fuel modification, etc., as set out in Title 14 Subchapter 2), and (b) whether structural fire protection and suppression services (local fire department response, hydrant coverage, apparatus access) are available to serve the proposed subdivision.
  3. Prepare written findings that explicitly state the map’s compliance (or conditions to achieve compliance) and the status of fire protection/suppression availability. If the services are not currently available, condition the map approval on an implementation plan (this is a common local practice although not fully detailed in the CWUIC text).
  4. Transmit the findings and the map to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection as required by § 610.2. The Board (and CAL FIRE/Director designee under Title 14 provisions) may review and make fire protection recommendations.

Note: the CWUIC excerpts provided do not specify exact timing deadlines for the transmission or the precise content format of the findings — check the referenced Title 14 Subchapter 1 procedural rules and the Government Code language for any timing requirements.

Related provisions

  • § 609 — Ridgelines, Fuel Breaks and Greenbelts (related fuel break and greenbelt requirements referenced by State regulations).
  • § 611 — Subdivision Review Survey (Board‑led survey and recommendations for subdivisions at risk).
  • Title 14 §1270.04 — Provisions for application of the State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations (notice, review by Director/CAL FIRE). The CWUIC reproduces and cross‑references Title 14 in Appendix H.
  • Title 14 §1270.05 — Local regulations: how a local regulation can “equal or exceed” State minimums; exceptions and delegation.

(If you want, I can pull the exact text of Title 14 §1270.04/§1270.05 or Government Code §66474.02(c) so you have the verbatim statutory language to attach to the findings package.)

Code references

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

  • CWUIC § 609.2.6 High relevance — show source text

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    FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS

    609.2.6 Maintenance of fuel breaks. Where a local jurisdiction requires fuel breaks, maintenance mechanisms shall be established to ensure the fire behavior objectives and thresholds are maintained over time.

    The mechanisms required shall be binding upon the property for which the fuel break is established, shall ensure adequate main- tenance levels, and may include: written legal agreements; permanent fees, taxes, or assessments; assessments through a homeowners’ association; or other funding mechanisms. [CCR T14 §1276.03(g) and (h)]

    609.2.7 Greenbelts, greenways, open spaces and parks. Where a greenbelt, greenway, open space, park, landscaped or natural area or portion thereof is intended to serve as a fuel break, the space or relevant portion thereof shall conform with the requirements in California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 1276.03. [CCR T14 §1276.04]

    SECTION 610—FIRE SAFE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS

    610.1 General. Pursuant to Public Resources Code, Section 4290, all residential, commercial and industrial building construction within state responsibility areas approved after January 1, 1991, and within lands classified and designated as an LRA Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 51177 of the Government Code after July 1, 2021, shall comply with the SRA Fire Safe Development Regulations as specified in Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2.

    610.2 Subdivision map findings. Pursuant to Government Code (GC), Section 66474.02, before approving a tentative map, or a parcel map for which a tentative map was not required, for an area located in an SRA or an LRA Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, as both are defined in GC Section 51177, a legislative body of a county, except as provided in GC Section 66474.02(c), shall make findings regarding compliance with the SRA Fire Safe Regulations and the availability of structural fire protection and suppression services. These findings and accompanying map shall be transmitted to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and comply with the requirements in Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 1, Article 1.

    SECTION 611—SUBDIVISION REVIEW SURVEY

    611.1 Subdivision identification. Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 4290.5 and Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 1, Article 2, the Board, in consultation with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, shall survey local governments to identify existing subdivi- sions, as defined in Article 2, located in an SRA area or an LRA Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone without a secondary egress route that is at significant fire risk.

    611.2 Fire safety recommendations. The Board, in consultation with the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the local government that identified the subdivision, shall develop recommendations to improve the subdivision’s fire safety. The Board shall provide the final recommendations to the local government that identified the subdivision and to the residents of the subdivision.

  • CWUIC § 13108.5 High relevance — show source text

    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

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    APPENDIX H—REFERENCED CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTS

    ridgelines to reduce fire risk and improve fire protection. The board shall, by regulation, define “ridgeline” for purposes of this subdivision.

    (c) These regulations do not supersede local regulations which equal or exceed minimum regulations adopted by the state. (d) The board may enter into contracts with technical experts to meet the requirements of this section.

    4290.1.

    (a) On or before July 1, 2022, the board shall develop criteria for and maintain a “Fire Risk Reduction Community” list of local agen- cies located in a state responsibility area or a very high fire hazard severity zone, identified pursuant to Section 51178 of the Government Code, that meet best practices for local fire planning. (b) The board shall consider all of the following when developing the criteria for the list required under subdivision (a): (1) Compliance with the board’s regulations, including minimum fire safety standards. (2) Participation in the National Fire Protection Association’s “Firewise USA” or the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s “Fire Adapted Communities” programs. (3) Adoption of the board’s recommendations to improve the safety element pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 65302.5 of the Government Code.

    (4) Recently developed or updated community wildfire protection plans. (c) The board shall post the “Fire Risk Reduction Community” list on its internet website.

    4290.5.

  • CWUIC § 1276.01 High relevance — show source text

    1_|Intent|Y||||1276.01||||| |608.2|General|Y||||1276.01(a)||||| |608.2.1|Setback reduction|Y||||1276.01(b)||||| |609|Ridgelines,
    Fuel Breaks and
    Greenbelts|Y||||1276.02||||4290(a)| |609.1|Ridgelines|Y||||1276.02||||| |609.2|Fuel breaks|Y||||1276.03
    1276.03(a)||||| |609.2.1|Exposures|Y||||1276.03(b)||||| |609.2.2|Fire department
    access|Y||||1276.03(c)||||| |609.2.3|Location of fuel breaks|Y||||1276.03(d)||||| |609.2.4|Timing|Y||||1276.03(e)||||| |609.2.5|Construction|Y||||1276.03(f)||||| |609.2.6|Maintenance of fuel
    breaks|Y||||1276.03(g)
    1276.03(h)||||| |609.2.7|Greenbelts, green-
    ways, open spaces
    and parks|Y||||1276.04
    1276.04(a)||||| |610|Fire safe develop-
    ment regulations|Y|||4908|||||| |610.1|General|Y|||4908.1|||||| |610.2|Subdivision map
    findings|Y|||4908.2||||||

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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 6 Fire protection requirements Fire protection requirements Fire protection requirements Fire protection requirements Fire protection requirements Fire protection requirements Fire protection requirements Fire protection requirements Fire protection requirements Fire protection requirements
    611 Subdivision review
    survey    		 Y 4909
    611.1 Subdivision
    identification    		 Y 4909.1
    611.2 Fire safety
    recommendations    		 Y 4909.2
    611.3 Implementation Y 4909.3
    611.4 Re-survey Y 4909.
  • CWUIC § 610.2 High relevance — show source text

    610.2 Subdivision map findings. Pursuant to Government Code (GC), Section 66474.02, before approving a tentative map, or a parcel map for which a tentative map was not required, for an area located in an SRA or an LRA Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, as both are defined in GC Section 51177, a legislative body of a county, except as provided in GC Section 66474.02(c), shall make findings regarding compliance with the SRA Fire Safe Regulations and the availability of structural fire protection and suppression services. These findings and accompanying map shall be transmitted to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and comply with the requirements in Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 1, Article 1.

    SECTION 611—SUBDIVISION REVIEW SURVEY

    611.1 Subdivision identification. Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 4290.5 and Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 1, Article 2, the Board, in consultation with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, shall survey local governments to identify existing subdivi- sions, as defined in Article 2, located in an SRA area or an LRA Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone without a secondary egress route that is at significant fire risk.

    611.2 Fire safety recommendations. The Board, in consultation with the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the local government that identified the subdivision, shall develop recommendations to improve the subdivision’s fire safety. The Board shall provide the final recommendations to the local government that identified the subdivision and to the residents of the subdivision.

    611.3 Implementation. The Board shall maintain a list of the subdivisions identified and the status of the implementation of the recom- mendations provided.

    611.4 Re-survey. Beginning July 1, 2021, the Board shall conduct this survey every 5 years.

    SECTION 612—GENERAL PLAN SAFETY ELEMENT

    612.1 General. Pursuant to Government Code Section 65302(g)(3), the safety element of a city or county’s General Plan shall be reviewed and updated as necessary to address the risk of fire for land classified as SRA, as defined in Section 4102 of the Public Resources Code, and land classified as an LRA Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, as defined in Section 51177.

    612.2 Submission to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and local fire agencies. Pursuant to Government Code Section 65302.5(b)(1), the draft element of, or draft amendment to, the safety element of a county or a city’s general plan shall be submitted to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and to every local agency that provides fire protection to territory in the city or county at least 90 days prior to either of the following: the adoption or amendment to the safety element of its general plan for each county that contains state responsibility areas; or the adoption or amendment to the safety element of its general plan for each city or county that contains a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone as defined pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 51177.

  • CWUIC § 1270.04 Medium relevance — show source text

    and_ (4) applications for Building permits on a parcel approved in a pre-1991 parcel or tentative map to the extent that conditions relating to the perimeters and access to the Buildings were not imposed as part of the approval of the parcel or tentative

    map. (b) Subchapter 2 does not apply where an application for a Building permit is filed after January 1, 1991 for Building construction on a parcel that was formed from a parcel map or tentative map (if the final map for the tentative map is approved within the time prescribed by the local ordinance) approved prior to January 1, 1991, to the extent that conditions relating to the perime- ters and access to the Buildings were imposed by the parcel map or final tentative map approved prior to January 1, 1991.

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    APPENDIX H—REFERENCED CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTS

    (c) Affected activities include, but are not limited to: (1) permitting or approval of new parcels, excluding lot line adjustments as specified in Government Code (GC) section 66412(d); (2) application for a Building permit for new construction not relating to an existing Structure; (3) application for a use permit; (4) Road construction including construction of a Road that does not currently exist, or extension of an existing Road. (d) The standards in Subchapter 2 applicable to Roads shall not apply to Roads used solely for Agriculture; mining; or the manage- ment of timberland or harvesting of forest products.

    1270.04 Provisions for application of these regulations. This Subchapter shall be applied as follows: (a) the Local Jurisdictions shall provide the Director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) or their designee with notice of applications for Building permits, tentative parcel maps, tentative maps, and installation or use permits for construction or Development within the SRA, or if after July, 1 2021, the VHFHSZ. (b) the Director or their designee may review and make fire protection recommendations on applicable construction or develop- ment permits or maps provided by the Local Jurisdiction. (c) the Local Jurisdiction shall ensure that the applicable sections of this Subchapter become a condition of approval of any appli- cable construction or Development permit or map.

    1270.05 Local regulations. (a) Subchapter 2 shall serve as the minimum Wildfire protection standards applied in SRA and VHFHSZ. However, Subchapter 2 does not supersede local regulations which equal or exceed the standards of this Subchapter. (b) A local regulation equals or exceeds a minimum standard of this Subchapter only if, at a minimum, the local regulation also fully complies with the corresponding minimum standard in this Subchapter. (c) A Local Jurisdiction shall not apply exemptions to Subchapter 2 that are not enumerated in Subchapter 2. Exceptions requested and approved in conformance with § 1270.07 (Exceptions to Standards) may be granted on a case-by-case basis. (d) Notwithstanding a local regulation that equals or exceeds the State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations, Building construction shall comply with the State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations.

    _**1270.06 Inspections.

  • CWUIC § 1270.04 Medium relevance — show source text

    1270.04 Provisions for application of these regulations. This Subchapter shall be applied as follows: (a) the Local Jurisdictions shall provide the Director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) or their designee with notice of applications for Building permits, tentative parcel maps, tentative maps, and installation or use permits for construction or Development within the SRA, or if after July, 1 2021, the VHFHSZ. (b) the Director or their designee may review and make fire protection recommendations on applicable construction or develop- ment permits or maps provided by the Local Jurisdiction. (c) the Local Jurisdiction shall ensure that the applicable sections of this Subchapter become a condition of approval of any appli- cable construction or Development permit or map.

    1270.05 Local regulations. (a) Subchapter 2 shall serve as the minimum Wildfire protection standards applied in SRA and VHFHSZ. However, Subchapter 2 does not supersede local regulations which equal or exceed the standards of this Subchapter. (b) A local regulation equals or exceeds a minimum standard of this Subchapter only if, at a minimum, the local regulation also fully complies with the corresponding minimum standard in this Subchapter. (c) A Local Jurisdiction shall not apply exemptions to Subchapter 2 that are not enumerated in Subchapter 2. Exceptions requested and approved in conformance with § 1270.07 (Exceptions to Standards) may be granted on a case-by-case basis. (d) Notwithstanding a local regulation that equals or exceeds the State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations, Building construction shall comply with the State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations.

    1270.06 Inspections. Inspections shall conform to the following requirements: (a) Inspections in the SRA shall be made by: (1) the Director, or (2) Local Jurisdictions that have assumed state fire protection responsibility on SRA lands, or (3) Local Jurisdictions where the inspection duties have been formally delegated by the Director to the Local Jurisdictions, pursuant to subsection (b). (b) The Director may delegate inspection authority to a Local Jurisdiction subject to all of the following criteria: (1) The Local Jurisdiction represents that they have appropriate resources to perform the delegated inspection authority. (2) The Local Jurisdiction acknowledges that CAL FIRE's authority under subsection (d) shall not be waived or restricted. (3) The Local Jurisdiction consents to the delegation of inspection authority. (4) The Director may revoke the delegation at any time. (5) The delegation of inspection authority, and any subsequent revocation of the delegation, shall be documented in writ- ing, and retained on file at the CAL FIRE Unit headquarters that administers SRA fire protection in the area. (c) Inspections in the VHFHSZ shall be made by the Local Jurisdiction. (d) Nothing in this section abrogates CAL FIRE's authority to inspect and enforce state forest and fire laws in the SRA even when the inspection duties have been delegated pursuant to this section. (e) Reports of violations within the SRA shall be provided to the CAL FIRE Unit headquarters that administers SRA fire protection in the Local Jurisdiction.

  • CWUIC § 609.2.3 Medium relevance — show source text

    609.2.3 Location of fuel breaks. Fuel breaks may be required at locations such as, but not limited to: (1) Directly adjacent to defensible space as defined by Title 14 CCR Section 1299.02 to reduce radiant and convective heat expo- sure and ember impacts, or support firefighting tactics. (2) Directly adjacent to roads to manage radiant and convective heat exposure and ember impacts, increase evacuation safety, or support firefighting tactics. (3) Directly adjacent to a hazardous land use to limit the spread of fire from such uses, reduce radiant and convective heat exposure, or support firefighting tactics. (4) Strategically located along ridgelines, in greenbelts, or in other locations to reduce radiant and convective heat exposure and ember impacts, or support community level firefighting tactics.

    [CCR T14 §1276.03(d)]

    609.2.4 Timing. Fuel breaks shall be completed prior to the commencement of any permitted construction. [CCR T14 §1276.03(e)]

    609.2.5 Construction. Fuel breaks shall be constructed using the most ecologically and site appropriate treatment option, such as, but not limited to, prescribed burning, manual treatment, mechanical treatment, prescribed herbivory, and targeted ground applica- tion of herbicides. [CCR T14 §1276.03(f)]

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    FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS

    609.2.6 Maintenance of fuel breaks. Where a local jurisdiction requires fuel breaks, maintenance mechanisms shall be established to ensure the fire behavior objectives and thresholds are maintained over time.

    The mechanisms required shall be binding upon the property for which the fuel break is established, shall ensure adequate main- tenance levels, and may include: written legal agreements; permanent fees, taxes, or assessments; assessments through a homeowners’ association; or other funding mechanisms. [CCR T14 §1276.03(g) and (h)]

    609.2.7 Greenbelts, greenways, open spaces and parks. Where a greenbelt, greenway, open space, park, landscaped or natural area or portion thereof is intended to serve as a fuel break, the space or relevant portion thereof shall conform with the requirements in California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 1276.03. [CCR T14 §1276.04]

    SECTION 610—FIRE SAFE DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS

    610.1 General. Pursuant to Public Resources Code, Section 4290, all residential, commercial and industrial building construction within state responsibility areas approved after January 1, 1991, and within lands classified and designated as an LRA Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 51177 of the Government Code after July 1, 2021, shall comply with the SRA Fire Safe Development Regulations as specified in Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2.

  • CWUIC § 1-2 Medium 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

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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 § 1-3 Medium 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 § 1.5 Medium relevance — show source text

    [California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, §1270.00] Title.

    Subchapter 2 shall be known as the “State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations,” and shall constitute the minimum Wildfire protection stan- dards of the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection.

    [California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, §1270.01] Definitions.

    The following definitions are applicable to Subchapter 2. (a) Agriculture: Land used for agricultural purposes as defined in a Local Jurisdiction's zoning ordinances. (b) Board: California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. (c) Building: Any Structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or Occupancy, except those classified as Utility and Miscellaneous Group U. (d) CAL FIRE: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. (e) Dead-end Road: A Road that has only one point of vehicular ingress/egress, including cul-de-sacs and Roads that loop back on themselves.

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    ADMINISTRATION

    (f) Defensible Space: The area within the perimeter of a parcel, Development, neighborhood or community where basic wildland fire protection practices and measures are implemented, providing the key point of defense from an approaching Wildfire or defense against encroaching Wildfires or escaping Structure fires. The perimeter as used in this regulation is the area encom- passing the parcel or parcels proposed for construction and/or Development, excluding the physical Structure itself. The area is characterized by the establishment and maintenance of emergency vehicle access, emergency water reserves, Road names and Building identification, and fuel modification measures. (g) Development: As defined in Section 66418.1 of the California Government Code. (h) Director: Director of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection or their designee. (i) Driveway: A vehicular pathway that serves not more than four (4) Residential Units and any number of noncommercial or nonindustrial Utility or Miscellaneous Group U Buildings on each parcel. A Driveway shall not serve commercial or industrial uses at any size or scale. (j) Exception: An alternative to the specified standard requested by the applicant that may be necessary due to health, safety, environmental conditions, physical site limitations or other limiting conditions, such as recorded historical sites, that provides mitigation of the problem. (k) Fire Apparatus: A vehicle designed to be used under emergency conditions to transport personnel and equipment or to support emergency response, including but not limited to the suppression of fires. (l) Fire Authority: A fire department, agency, division, district or other governmental body responsible for regulating and/or enforcing minimum fire safety standards in the Local Jurisdiction. (m) Fire Hydrant: A valved connection on a water supply or storage system for the purpose of providing water for fire protection and suppression operations. (n) Fuel Break: A strategically located area where the volume and arrangement of vegetation has been managed to limit fire inten- sity, fire severity, rate of spread, crown fire potential and/or ember production. (o) Greenbelts: open space, parks, wildlands, other areas, or a combination thereof, as designated by Local Jurisdictions, which _are in, surround, or are adjacent to a city or urbanized area,

  • 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 § 1299.04 Medium relevance — show source text

    Loose surface litter, normally consisting of_ fallen leaves or needles, twigs, bark, cones, and small branches, shall be permitted to a maximum depth of three inches (3 in.). (B) Cut annual grasses and forbs down to a maximum height of four inches (4 in.). (C) All exposed wood piles must have a minimum of ten feet (10 ft.) of clearance, down to bare mineral soil, in all directions.

    (c) For both Zones 1 and 2: (1) “Outbuildings” and Liquid Propane Gas (LPG) storage tanks shall have the following minimum clearance: ten feet (10 ft.) of clearance to bare mineral soil and no flammable vegetation for an additional ten feet (10 ft.) around their exterior. (2) Protect water quality. Do not clear vegetation to bare mineral soil and avoid the use of heavy equipment in and around streams and seasonal drainages. Vegetation removal can cause soil erosion, especially on steep slopes. Keep soil distur- bance to a minimum on steep slopes.

    1299.04 Additional clearance.

    (a) An insurance company that insures an occupied “Building or Structure” may require additional clearance beyond that required under § 1299.03 only if a fire expert designated by the Director provides findings that the clearing is necessary. (b) Within the intent of the regulations, a fire expert designated by the Director may require more than one hundred feet (100 ft.) of defensible space. A fire expert cannot require additional defensible space clearance beyond the property line. (c) Further guidance to property owners on implementation of this regulation is contained in the “General Guidelines for Creating Defensible Space” and the “Property Inspection Guide,” both of which are referenced elsewhere in this regulation.

    1299.05 Alternative methods. The provisions of these regulations are not intended to exclude alternative methods not specifically prescribed by these regulations. A fire expert designated by the Director may approve alternative practices which provide for the same practical effects as those stated in these regulations.

    SECTION H105—CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 19

    Section 2201.

    2201 Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the SRA. The fire hazard severity zones and the rating reflecting the degree of severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those zones, shall be designated by the State Fire Marshal and delineated on a map on file in the Sacra- mento Office of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire and Resources Assessment Program, 715 P Street.

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    APPENDIX H—REFERENCED CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTS

    The map, approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, is hereby incorporated by reference and entitled “State Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones,” dated September 29, 2023.

    The official map is also filed electronically on the following website: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/fire-hazard-severity-zones

    SECTION H106—HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE

    Sections 13869.7, 17958, 18941.5.

    13869.7.

Frequently asked questions

Who must make the subdivision map findings?

The legislative body of the county must make the findings required by § 610.2 for tentative maps or parcel maps in an SRA or LRA VHFHSZ, except where an exception in the Government Code applies.

What must the findings say?

They must find that the map complies with the SRA Fire Safe Regulations and that structural fire protection and suppression services are available (or note conditions to ensure availability), per § 610.2.

Do I need to send the map to the State?

Yes — § 610.2 requires that the findings and the accompanying map be transmitted to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection.

If my project is in a VHFHSZ mapped after July 1, 2021, do State rules apply?

Yes — § 610.1 expands the SRA Fire Safe Development Regulations to lands designated as LRA VHFHSZ after July 1, 2021.

Do local ordinances ever replace the State rules?

Local regulations may apply if they equal or exceed the State minimum standards; Title 14 clarifies how local rules are compared to State minimums. The CWUIC references that framework (Title 14 §1270.05).

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Fire‑safe development, ridgelines, and subdivision review

California Wildland-Urban Interface Code