CWUIC · California Wildland-Urban Interface Code
Should CWUIC mapping reviews align with county general plan updates?
The CWUIC requires code officials to reevaluate WUI maps every 5 years; the State Fire Marshal also reviews hazard maps on a five‑year SRA cycle and should try to time its reviews to coincide with county general plan updates “when possible,” but exact alignment is not required. **§ 302.2**.
Last reviewed: July 6, 2026
What the code requires — 2–4 sentences
The CWUIC requires the code official to reevaluate and recommend modifications to wildland-urban interface areas on a 5‑year basis (or more frequently if the legislative body so directs). The State Fire Marshal must also periodically review fire hazard severity zones and the State Responsibility Area (SRA) review every five years, and those State reviews should, when possible, fall within the time frames for each county’s general plan update. See § 302.2.
The single most important rule: conduct a mapping review every 5 years; try to time State reviews to coincide with county general plan updates, but alignment is “when possible,” not an absolute requirement.
Requirements in detail
Who must act
- Code official — responsible for local reevaluation and recommendation of changes to WUI area mapping on the required schedule. § 302.2.
- State Fire Marshal — performs periodic statewide reviews of fire hazard severity zones and coordinates SRA reviews to occur every five years; aims to align those reviews with county general plan update timeframes when possible. § 302.2.
How often reviews must occur
- Baseline schedule: every 5 years. § 302.2.
- More frequently: permitted/required if the local legislative body determines the need for earlier reviews. § 302.2.
Alignment with county general plan updates
- The code instructs the State review to “fall within the time frames for the county’s general plan update” when possible; it does not impose a strict legal requirement that every local 5‑year mapping review must exactly coincide with a county general plan cycle. § 302.2.
Decision-relevant dimensions (quick reference)
| Decision dimension | Code value / action | Who | Code Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Review frequency (baseline) | 5‑year cycle | Code official / State Fire Marshal | § 302.2 |
| Ability to shorten interval | More frequently if legislative body deems necessary | Legislative body / Code official | § 302.2 |
| State review alignment with county plan | When possible coincide with county general plan update | State Fire Marshal | § 302.2 |
| Required scope of review | Reevaluate and recommend modifications per mapping criteria in § 302.1 | Code official / State Fire Marshal | § 302.1, § 302.2 |
Exceptions & special cases
- The 5‑year review interval is the baseline; a local legislative body may require sooner reviews. That discretion is explicitly acknowledged in § 302.2.
- The phrase “when possible” qualifies alignment with county general plan updates for the State Fire Marshal reviews — it is aspirational/coordination language, not an absolute synchrony mandate. § 302.2.
- State-level SRA reviews are scheduled every five years and the State Fire Marshal’s recommendations for fire hazard severity zones are intended to be timed to the county planning cycle when feasible; local timing or local legislative actions may still result in non‑coincident schedules. § 302.2.
Common mistakes
- Assuming alignment is mandatory: many assume every local mapping review must occur during the county general plan update; the code only asks that State reviews fall within county timeframes “when possible.” § 302.2.
- Reading the 5‑year interval as optional: the code establishes a 5‑year baseline for reevaluation — that is the standard cycle unless the legislative body requires a different cadence. § 302.2.
- Ignoring local authority: local legislative bodies can request more frequent reviews; the code explicitly allows that. § 302.2.
- Confusing mapping review with general plan content updates: mapping review is a technical reevaluation of WUI boundaries and hazard zones per § 302.1 and § 302.2; the General Plan’s safety element is a separate municipal planning document (see related provisions below). § 302.1, § 302.2.
Worked example — concrete scenario with dates and numbers
- Baseline: A county’s last WUI map reevaluation was completed and recommended by the code official on June 15, 2021. Under § 302.2, the next required reevaluation is on or before June 15, 2026 (5 years later).
- County general plan timing: Suppose the county’s Safety Element update window runs February–October 2027. The State Fire Marshal’s statewide SRA review is on a five‑year cycle also due in 2026. The State should attempt to schedule its review to “fall within the time frames for the county’s general plan update” when possible, so the State might plan outreach and data submission in late 2026 to be considered during the county’s 2027 Safety Element process. § 302.2.
- Local legislative action: If the county’s legislative body decides that recent wildfires or new technical data warrant an earlier map change, it may direct the code official to perform a mapping review in 2024 instead of waiting to 2026. That earlier review is allowed by § 302.2.
Practical takeaway: follow the 5‑year baseline, coordinate timing with county planning where feasible, and document any deliberate decision to accelerate or delay a review so it’s clear the action was within the code’s discretion. § 302.2.
Related provisions
- § 302.1 — Mapping (how the State Fire Marshal classifies lands into Fire Hazard Severity Zones).
- § 301.2 — Purpose of Chapter 3 (classification of lands by hazard level).
- § 611.4 — Re‑survey schedule for certain subdivision surveys (every 5 years) — related recurring review rhythm in the code.
- § 612.1 — General Plan Safety Element review/update to address fire risk for SRA and LRA Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
(These related sections explain mapping criteria, review purpose, and the broader planning interface the CWUIC contemplates.)
Code references
Grounded in the retrieved California Wildland-Urban Interface Code — click a citation to read the verbatim passage:
CWUIC § 302.1 Medium relevance — show source text
2|Purpose|Y|||||||51176|4201| |302|Wildland-Urban
Interface Area
Designations|Y||||||||| |302.1|Mapping|Y|||4904.2||||51178|4202
4203(a)
4204| |302.2|Review of wildland-
urban interface areas|Y|||||||51181|4204| |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| |401|General|Y||||||||| |401.1|Scope|Y||||||||| |401.2|Objective|Y||||1273.00||||| |401.3|General safety
precautions|Y||||||||| |402|Applicability|Y|||||||||APPENDIX H-26 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE
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APPENDIX H—REFERENCED CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTS
2025 CWUIC—continued Col2 Adopted
Yes/NoIWUIC
SectionCBC
SectionCFC
SectionTitle 14,
Division 1.5
SectionTitle 19,
Division 1
SectionGov Code
SectionPRC
SectionHSC
SectionSection 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 402.1 Subdivisions Y 402.1.1 Access Y 503 402.1.2 Water supply Y 507 402.1.2.1 Parcel map approval Y 1275.01 402.2 Individual structures Y 503
507402.2.1 Access Y 503 402.2.2 Water supply Y 507 402.3 Existing conditions N 505.1 403 Access Y 1273 403.1 General Y 1273.00 403.1.1 Section 403 definitions Y 1270.01(f) 403.1.2 Width Y 1273.01(a)
1273.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|||||||||APPENDIX H-34 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE
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APPENDIX H—REFERENCED CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTS
2025 CWUIC—continued Col2 Adopted
Yes/NoIWUIC
SectionCBC
SectionCFC
SectionTitle 14,
Division 1.5
SectionTitle 19,
Division 1
SectionGov Code
SectionPRC
SectionHSC
SectionSection 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 § 1270.01 Medium relevance — show source text
1|||||| ||Strategic
ridgeline (T14)|Y||||1270.01(dd)||||| ||Structure|Y|202|||1270.01(ee)||||| ||Subdivision|Y||||||||| ||Tree crown|Y||||||||| ||Undeveloped
ridgeline (T14)|Y||||1270.01(ii)||||| ||Unenclosed acces-
sory structure|Y||||||||| ||Vertical curve (T14)|Y||||1270.01(k)||||| ||Wildfire|Y||702A|4902.1|||||| ||Wildfire exposure|Y||702A|4902.1|||||| ||Wildland|Y||||||||| ||Wildland-urban inter-
face area|Y||702A|4902.1|||||| |Chapter 3|Wildland-urban interface areas|Wildland-urban interface areas|Wildland-urban interface areas|Wildland-urban interface areas|Wildland-urban interface areas|Wildland-urban interface areas|Wildland-urban interface areas|Wildland-urban interface areas|Wildland-urban interface areas|Wildland-urban interface areas| |301|General|Y||||||||| |301.1|Scope|Y||||||||4201| |301.2|Purpose|Y|||||||51176|4201| |302|Wildland-Urban
Interface Area
Designations|Y||||||||| |302.1|Mapping|Y|||4904.2||||51178|4202
4203(a)
4204| |302.2|Review of wildland-
urban interface areas|Y|||||||51181|4204| |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| |401|General|Y||||||||| |401.1|Scope|Y||||||||| |401.2|Objective|Y||||1273.00||||| |401.3|General safety
precautions|Y||||||||| |402|Applicability|Y|||||||||APPENDIX H-26 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE
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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,CWUIC § 603.4.2 Medium relevance — show source text
Trees 603.4.2
2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE INDEX-1
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INDEX
Undeveloped Ridgeline 202 Unenclosed Accessory Structure 202
Vegetation Control Appendix A, A102 Vegetation management compliance 106.4 Vegetation Management Plan Appendix B Vents 504.10
Vertical Curve 202
Water Supply Adequate water supply 404.5 Applicability 402 Draft sites 404.3 Hydrants 404.4 Identification 404.8
Obstructions 404.7 Reliability 404.10 Required water supply 404.2 Subdivisions 402.1 Testing and maintenance 404.9 Water sources 404.2
Wildfire 202
Wildland 202
Wildland-Urban Interface Area 202
Wildland-Urban Interface Area Designations 302 Declaration 302.1
Mapping 302.2 Review 302.3
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HISTORY NOTE APPENDIX
2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 7
HISTORY:
- (SFM 08/24)—Adoption by reference of the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code with necessary amendments relocated from the California Building Code, California Residential Code and California Fire Code to become the 2025 Califor- nia Wildland-Urban Interface Code . Approved by the California Building Standards Commission on February 26, 2025, filed with Secretary of State on March 7, 2025, and effective on January 1, 2026.
2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE HIST-1
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HIST-2 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE
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CWUIC § 1-2 Medium 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:
Fire service access to the property that is to be protected, including fire apparatus access roads and off-road driveways.
Premises identification.
Key boxes to provide ready access to properties secured by gated roadways or other impediments to rapid fire service access.
Fire protection water supplies, including adequate water sources, pumper apparatus drafting sites, fire hydrant systems and system reliability.
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 § 302.2 Medium relevance — show source text
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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CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE
CHAPTER 4 – WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREA REQUIREMENTS
(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 402 † 402.1.1 X 402.1.2 X 402.1.2.1 X 402.2.1 X 402.2.2 X 402. 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.
California Wildland-Urban Interface Code Medium relevance — show source text
|TYPICAL
DISTRIBUTION TRENCH
Joint Trench − Franchise Area or P.U.E.
18 INCHES
MINIMUM
STREET
SIDE
MIN.
24"
(NON PG&E)
(PREFERRED)
**
Minimum
T C SL 5"
54"
6"
G 5"
See Note 5
7"
3" MIN
P SL S 7"
FIG. 1
Placement of the Distribution Trench within a P.U.E. is the preferred method. Trenching in the
Franchise Area should only be used when a P.U.E. is unobtainable or otherwise infeasible.
Increase cover to 30" in the street area (see Note 3).
** Separation must be 12" unless a reduction (6") is mutually agreed upon by affected utilities.|TYPICAL
SERVICE TRENCH
18 INCHES
MINIMUM
*
18"
MINIMUM
T C (SEE NOTE 7) 3"
39"
12"
6"
S Min. G 4"
BEDDING MATERIAL 2"
FIG. 2
(View facing Distribution Trench)
MINIMUM SEPARATION AND
CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS
DUCT DB
G T T C S P
G (GAS) SEE NOTES 4, 7 & 13 12" 12" 12" 6" 12"
T (TELEPHONE) DUCT 12" 1" 1" 12" 12"
T (TELEPHONE) DIRECT 12" 1" 1" 12" 12"
BURY
C (CATV) 12" 1" 1" 12" 12"
S (ELECTRIC SECONDARY) 6" 12" 12" 12" 3"
P (ELECTRIC PRIMARY) 12" 12" 12" 12" 3"
SEE
SL (STREETLIGHT) 6" 12" 12" 12" 1" 3"
NOTE 5
SEPARATION AND CLEARANCE DEFINITIONS
Cover:
The term cover" means the radial distance between the sur-
face of an underground cable, conduit, pipe, or other substruc-
ture and the surface elevation (grade).
Backfill:
The term backfill" refers to the materials used to refill a cut or
other excavation, or the act of such refilling after any needed
shading is performed.
Shading:
The term shading" refers to the materials used to provide a
measure of separation between facilities installed at different
levels within an excavation or cut.
Lift:
The term lift" is a layer of fill as spread or as compacted or a
measurement of material depth that is the rated effective soil
depth a compactor can achieve.
Bedding:
The term bedding" refers to the materials installed beneath
facilities at the bottom of a cut or other excavation and in-
tended to provide support and/or protection for those facilities.CWUIC § 302.1 Medium relevance — show source text
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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CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE
CHAPTER 4 – WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREA REQUIREMENTS
(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 § 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 § 18941.5 Medium relevance — show source text
(a) (1) Amendments, additions, and deletions to the California Building Standards Code, including, but not limited to, green building standards, adopted by a city, county, or city and county pursuant to Section 18941.5 or pursuant to Section 17958.7, together with all applicable portions of the California Building Standards Code, shall become effective 180 days
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APPENDIX H—REFERENCED CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTS
after publication of the California Building Standards Code by the commission, or at a later date after publication estab- lished by the commission. (2) The publication date established by the commission shall be no earlier than the date the California Building Standards Code is available for purchase by the public. (b) Neither the State Building Standards Law contained in this part, nor the application of building standards contained in this section, shall limit the authority of a city, county, or city and county to establish more restrictive building standards, including, but not limited to, green building standards, reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. The governing body shall make the finding required by Section 17958.7 and the other requirements imposed by Section 17958.7 shall apply to that finding. Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of fire protection districts pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13869.7. Further, nothing in this section shall require findings required by Section 17958.7 beyond those currently required for more restrictive building standards related to housing.
SECTION H107—CROSS REFERENCE TOOL
The following matrix identifies each section in the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code and identifies the source document and section for the provisions. Some sections in this code are derived from more than one source and the language has been editorially massaged to coalesce and correlate with the other provisions in this code.
2025 CWUIC Col2 Adopted
Yes/NoIWUIC
SectionCBC
SectionCFC
SectionTitle 14,
Division 1.5
SectionTitle 19,
Division 1
SectionGov Code
SectionPRC
SectionHSC
SectionSection Title Title Title Title Title Title Title Title Title Title Chapter 1 Division I—California Administration Division I—California Administration Division I—California Administration Division I—California Administration Division I—California Administration Division I—California Administration Division I—California Administration Division I—California Administration Division I—California Administration Division I—California Administration 1.1 General Y 1.1.1 Title Y 1.1.1 1.1.1 1.1.2 Purpose Y 1.1.2
701A.21.1.2
4901.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
x 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
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:
Fire service access to the property that is to be protected, including fire apparatus access roads and off-road driveways.
Premises identification.
Frequently asked questions
Should a local jurisdiction delay its 5‑year WUI map review to exactly match its general plan schedule?
No. The CWUIC sets a 5‑year reevaluation baseline; aligning with the county general plan is encouraged for State reviews when possible, but local reviews must still occur on the code cycle unless the legislative body formally directs otherwise. § 302.2.
Who decides to perform reviews more frequently than every five years?
The local legislative body (e.g., city council or county board) may require more frequent reviews, and the code official implements that direction. § 302.2.
If the State Fire Marshal’s five‑year SRA review is in a different year than a county’s plan update, is that a code violation?
No. The code asks that State reviews “when possible” fall within county general plan update time frames — it is guidance to coordinate timing, not a strict violation trigger. § 302.2.
Does CWUIC require the general plan to change when maps change?
No. § 302.2 mandates mapping reevaluation and recommendations; changes to a county general plan or its Safety Element are governed by the Government Code and separate CWUIC sections (see § 612.1 for Safety Element review requirements).
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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