CWUIC · California Wildland-Urban Interface Code

Is there a model ordinance local jurisdictions can use to adopt zones?

The CWUIC provides a sample model ordinance in Appendix D (SECTION D101) that local governments can use to adopt moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones in their Local Responsibility Areas; adopting the sample still requires meeting the statute-based deadlines and procedures (notably adopting within 120 days of the State Fire Marshal’s recommendation, preserving the State’s ratings unless properly justified to increase them, and filing/transmitting the adopted ordinance and notices as required).

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Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

What the code requires — plain English

Yes. Appendix D contains a sample/model ordinance (SECTION D101) jurisdictions may use to designate fire hazard severity zones in Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) — but Appendix D is informational and not itself mandatory. The underlying statutory framework requires a local agency to adopt, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones within 120 days of receiving the State Fire Marshal’s recommendations, and the State Fire Marshal shall prepare and adopt a model ordinance for establishment of very high fire hazard severity zones. See § D101 and the statute-based rules in § 51179 and related provisions.

The bottom line: the CWUIC provides a ready-made sample ordinance in § D101 you can use for adoption — but local adoption must follow the timing, notice, and findings rules that the statutes require.

Requirements in detail

Core duties and who issues the model

  • Who prepares the model? The State Fire Marshal must prepare and adopt a model ordinance for establishment of very high fire hazard severity zones. § 51179(e).
  • Appendix D is presented as a model sample ordinance and is informational — it’s guidance for cities, counties, or fire districts but is not mandatory unless adopted locally. § D101.

Timing and procedural requirements

  • A local agency must adopt, by ordinance, designations for moderate, high, and very high zones within 120 days after receiving the State Fire Marshal’s recommendations. § 51179(a).
  • The local agency must transmit a copy of an adopted ordinance to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within 30 days of adoption. § 51179(c).
  • When the State Fire Marshal transmits the recommended zones, a local agency must make the information available for public review and comment (presented in understandable formats, e.g., maps) within 30 days. § 51178.5.

Local discretion (limits)

  • A local agency may increase the level of zone severity (e.g., include areas the State did not identify as very high) only with a finding supported by substantial evidence that the higher level is necessary for effective fire protection. § 51179(b)(1).
  • A local agency shall not decrease a zone level assigned by the State Fire Marshal. § 51179(b)(3).
  • Changes made by a local agency to the State Fire Marshal’s recommendations are final and not rebuttable by the State Fire Marshal. § 51179(d).

Notice and map filing

  • The local agency shall post a notice at the county recorder, county assessor, and county planning agency identifying the location of the State Fire Marshal’s map — and if the local agency amends that map, the notice should identify the location of the amended map. § 51179(g).

Quick decision table

Decision dimension Typical values / trigger Code Reference
Source of model ordinance State Fire Marshal must prepare/adopt a model ordinance § 51179(e)
Whether Appendix D is mandatory Informational sample – not mandatory unless locally adopted § D101
Deadline to adopt zone ordinance after SFM recommendation 120 days § 51179(a)
Public availability of SFM transmittal Make available for public review and comment within 30 days § 51178.5
Transmit adopted ordinance to Board of Forestry Within 30 days of adoption § 51179(c)
Can local reduce SFM-assigned zone level? No — must not decrease SFM level § 51179(b)(3)
Can local increase SFM-assigned zone level? Yes — only with findings supported by substantial evidence § 51179(b)(1)

Exceptions & special cases

  • Appendix D itself is explicitly informational and “not intended for adoption” as written; jurisdictions must still follow statutory requirements when enacting an ordinance. § D101.
  • A local agency may include more area than the State map (i.e., increase severity) only after making and documenting substantial-evidence findings; these findings are required to justify the change. § 51179(b)(1).
  • Local agencies cannot lawfully adopt an ordinance that lowers the fire hazard severity level assigned by the State Fire Marshal — reductions are prohibited. § 51179(b)(3).

Common mistakes

  • Treating Appendix D as automatically binding or already “adopted” statewide. Appendix D is a sample — jurisdictions must adopt an ordinance following local procedures to make it enforceable. § D101.
  • Missing statutory deadlines: failing to adopt within 120 days or failing to send the adopted ordinance to the State Board of Forestry within 30 days are common procedural errors. § 51179(a), (c).
  • Failing to prepare/findings when increasing zone severity: if a local agency raises a zone level without substantial-evidence findings, the change can be legally vulnerable. § 51179(b)(1).
  • Assuming the State Fire Marshal can “overrule” a local increase: changes adopted by a local agency to the SFM recommendations are final and not rebuttable by the State Fire Marshal. § 51179(d).

Worked example — concrete scenario with dates & numbers

Scenario: County A receives the State Fire Marshal’s recommended maps on January 1 showing new classifications for LRA.

  1. Deadline to adopt: County A has 120 days to adopt an ordinance designating moderate, high, and very high hazard zones — so on or before April 30. § 51179(a).
  2. Public availability: Within 30 days of receiving the transmittal (by January 31) County A must make the maps/information available for public review and comment in an understandable format (maps, web posting, public meeting). § 51178.5.
  3. Local adjustment: County A determines that a small subdivision the SFM classified as high should be designated very high because of steep slopes and unique wind patterns. County A compiles a record with technical evidence and adopts findings supported by substantial evidence to justify the increase and includes the area in its ordinance. § 51179(b)(1).
  4. Transmittal after adoption: County A adopts the ordinance on April 15. It must transmit a copy of the ordinance to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within 30 days — by May 15. § 51179(c).
  5. Notice posting: County A posts notices identifying the map location at the county recorder, assessor, and planning agency offices (and updates them if it amends the map). § 51179(g).

Practical note: County A may use the sample text in § D101 as the basis for its ordinance language (adjusted to local procedure and findings). Appendix D is a convenience sample — adopting it (or substantially similar language) aligns with the model approach the State Fire Marshal is directed to prepare.

Related provisions (CWUIC and reprinted statutes)

  • § D101 — Model Ordinance for Designation of Fire Hazard Severity Zones (Appendix D; informational sample).
  • § 51178 — State Fire Marshal’s identification of moderate, high, very high zones (criteria: fuels, slope, weather).
  • § 51178.5 — Local agency must make SFM transmittal available for public review and comment (format and timing).
  • § 51179 — Local designation by ordinance; 120‑day deadline; discretion to increase (with findings) but not decrease; transmittal to Board of Forestry; SFM model ordinance requirement.
  • § 51181 / § 51182 — State Fire Marshal periodic review and recommendations for very high zones (timing tied to SRA review).
  • Relevant CCR/Title 19 reprints referenced in CWUIC (e.g., procedures for designation and map filing) — see appendices and referenced statutes.

Code references

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

  • 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-
    CG    		 SFM Col5 HCD Col7 Col8 DSA Col10 OSHPD Col12 Col13 Col14 Col15 Col16 BSCC DPH AGR DWR CEC CA SL SLC
    Adopting Agency BSC BSC-
    CG    		 T-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 § 1.5 High relevance — show source text

    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

    H101 California Civil Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX H-3

    H102 California Government Code . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX H-4

    H103 California Public Resources Code . . . . . . APPENDIX H-6

    H104 California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX H-10

    H105 California Code of Regulations, Title 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX H-17

    H106 Health and Safety Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX H-18

    H107 Cross Reference Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX H-19

    APPENDIX I BOARD OF APPEALS . . . . . . . . . . .APPENDIX I-3

    I101 General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APPENDIX I-3

    INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . INDEX-1

    HISTORY NOTE APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HIST-1

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  • 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 § 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

  • 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 § 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 § 18941.5 High relevance — show source text

    Local modifications shall comply with Health and Safety Code, Section 18941.5 for Building Standards Law, Health and Safety Code, Section 17958 for State Housing Law or Health and Safety Code, Section 13869.7 for Fire Protection Districts.

    1.1.8.1 Findings and filings. 1. The city, county, or city and county shall make express findings for each amendment, addition, or deletion based upon climatic, topographical, or geological conditions. Exception: Hazardous building ordinances and programs mitigating unreinforced masonry buildings. 2. The city, county, or city and county shall file the amendments, additions, or deletions expressly marked and identified as to the applicable findings. Cities, counties, cities and counties, and fire departments shall file the amendments, additions, or deletions, and the findings with the California Building Standards Commission at 2525 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 130, Sacramento, CA 95833.

    3. Findings prepared by fire protection districts shall be ratified by the local city, county, or city and county and filed with the California Department of Housing and Community Development, Division of Codes and Standards, P.O. Box 1407, Sacra- mento, CA 95812-1407 or 2020 West El Camino Avenue, Suite 250, Sacramento, CA 95833-1829.

    1.1.8.2 Locally adopted energy standards—California Energy Code, Part 6. In addition to the provisions of Section 1.1.8.1 of this Part, the provisions of this section apply to cities, counties, and city and county amending adopted energy standards affecting build- ings and structures subject to the California Energy Code, Part 6.

    Applicable provisions of Public Resources Code Section 25402.1 and applicable provisions of Chapter 10 of the California Adminis- trative Code, Part 1 apply to local amendment of energy standards adopted by the California Energy Commission.

    1.1.9 Effective date of this code. Only those standards approved by the California Building Standards Commission that are effective at the time an application for a building permit is submitted shall apply to the plans and specifications for, and to the construction performed under that permit. For the effective dates of the provisions contained in this code, see the History Note page of this code.

    1.1.10 Availability of codes. At least one complete copy each of Titles 8, 19, 20, 24, and 25 with all revisions shall be maintained in the office of the building official responsible for the administration and enforcement of this code. Each state department concerned, and each city, county, or city and county shall have an up-to-date copy of the code available for public inspection. See Health and Safety Code, Section 18942(e)(1) and (2).

    1.1.11 Format. This part fundamentally adopts the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code by reference on a chapter-by-chapter basis. When a specific chapter of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is not printed in the code and is marked “Reserved,” such a chapter of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is not adopted as a portion of this code. When a specific chapter of the Califor- nia Wildland-Urban Interface Code is marked “Not adopted by the State of California,” but appears in the code, it may be available for adoption by local ordinance.

  • CWUIC § 2025 High 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-
    CG    		 SFM Col5 HCD Col7 Col8 DSA Col10 OSHPD Col12 Col13 Col14 Col15 Col16 BSCC DPH AGR DWR CEC CA SL SLC
    Adopting Agency BSC BSC-
    CG    		 T-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 High 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 § 1.11. 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 § 51178.5. High relevance — show source text

    It is the intent of the Legislature that this chapter apply to all local agencies,_ including, but not limited to, charter cities, charter counties, and charter cities and counties. This subdivision shall not limit the authority of a local agency to impose more restrictive fire and public safety requirements, as otherwise authorized by law. (c) It is not the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to limit or restrict the authority of a local agency to impose more restrictive fire and public safety requirements, as otherwise authorized by law. 51176. The purpose of this chapter is to classify lands in the state in accordance with whether a very high fire hazard is present so that public officials are able to identify measures that will retard the rate of spread, and reduce the potential intensity, of uncon- trolled fires that threaten to destroy resources, life, or property, and to require that those measures be taken. 51178. The State Fire Marshal shall identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones 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. 51178.5. Within 30 days after receiving a transmittal from the State Fire Marshal that identifies fire hazard severity zones pursuant to Section 51178, a local agency shall make the information available for public review and comment. The information shall be presented in a format that is understandable and accessible to the general public, including, but not limited to, maps.

    51179.

    (a) A local agency shall designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones in its jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178. (b) (1) A local agency may, at its discretion, include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as very high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as very high fire hazard severity zones following a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Section 51182 are necessary for effective fire protection within the area.

    (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

  • CWUIC § 11340.6 High 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

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    APPENDIX H—REFERENCED CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTS

Frequently asked questions

Can a city just adopt Appendix D verbatim and be done?

Yes — Appendix D is a model/sample ordinance intended for that purpose, but remember Appendix D is informational and adoption must still comply with statutory procedures (findings, public notice, deadlines). § D101 and § 51179.

How long does a jurisdiction have to adopt zone designations after the State sends recommendations?

A local agency has 120 days to adopt the required ordinance after receiving the State Fire Marshal’s recommendations. § 51179(a).

Can a local agency reduce the severity level assigned by the State Fire Marshal?

No — a local agency shall not decrease the level assigned by the State Fire Marshal. It may only increase a level with substantial‑evidence findings. § 51179(b)(3), (b)(1).

What must the local agency do after it adopts an ordinance?

Transmit a copy of the adopted ordinance to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within 30 days, and post notice identifying the SFM map location at the county recorder, assessor, and planning agency (or of the amended map if changed). § 51179(c), (g).

Is there a presumption of compliance if the local ordinance matches the State model?

Yes — a local ordinance that substantially conforms to the State Fire Marshal’s model ordinance is presumed to comply with the statutory requirements. § 51179(f).

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California Wildland-Urban Interface Code