CWUIC · California Wildland-Urban Interface Code
Addressing for buildings: installation, location and visibility
Your local jurisdiction assigns the building address. Under CWUIC **§ 403.2.4** and **§ 403.2.5**, that address must be permanently posted, legible, reflectorized for residences, and visible from the road fronting your property; if your access is via a private road, provide an unobstructed sign visible from the public way.
Last reviewed: July 6, 2026
What the code requires — 2-4 sentences
All buildings must be assigned an official address by the local jurisdiction and that address must be permanently posted so it is plainly legible and visible from the Road fronting the property. The sizes and materials for letters/numbers must conform to the California Fire Code, and residential addresses must be reflectorized. These requirements come from § 403.2.4 and § 403.2.5 of the CWUIC.
Permanently post your assigned address in a legible, maintained, and visible way so emergency responders can find your building from the road. (Plain English restatement of the rule in § 403.2.5.)
Requirements in detail
Key defined terms (first use bolded)
- Address — the unique number/name issued by the Local Jurisdiction for a building (see § 403.2.4(a)).
- Road / private Road — the route from which an address must be visible; where access is private, additional posting may be required (see § 403.2.5(a–b)).
- Permanently posted — posted in a fixed, durable location and maintained throughout construction and thereafter (see § 403.2.5(f)).
- Reflectorized — residential address markings must use reflectorized characters per § 403.2.4(c).
What the code requires (organized)
- Address assignment: All Buildings must be issued an address that conforms to the local addressing system; Utility and miscellaneous Group U buildings may be exempt from having a separate address, but each Residential Unit must be separately identified (§ 403.2.4(a)).
- Letter/number size & standard: The size of letters, numbers and symbols for addresses must conform to the California Fire Code (CCR Title 24, Part 9) — CWUIC delegates sizing/specifications to that standard (§ 403.2.4(b)).
- Reflectivity: Residential building addresses shall be reflectorized (§ 403.2.4(c)).
- Posting & visibility: Addresses must be permanently posted, plainly legible, and visible from the Road fronting the property; posted at the beginning of construction and maintained thereafter (§ 403.2.5(a, f)).
- Private access: If access is via a private Road and the address cannot be seen from the public way, an unobstructed sign or other means must be provided so the address is visible from the public way (§ 403.2.5(b)).
- One-way roads: Address signs on one-way Roads must be visible from both directions (§ 403.2.5(c)).
- Multiple addresses: When more than one address is required for a single driveway, all addresses must be mounted on a single sign or post (§ 403.2.5(d)).
- Single-business access roads: If a Road provides access solely to a single commercial or industrial business, place the address sign at the nearest Road intersection that provides access, or otherwise post it so it is unobstructed and visible from that intersection (§ 403.2.5(e)).
Quick-reference table for decision-making
| Decision / dimension | Required value or action | Code Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Who must have an address | All Buildings (local jurisdiction issues address); Group U may be exempt; each Residential Unit must be separately identified | § 403.2.4(a) |
| Character size/spec | Conform to California Fire Code (CCR Title 24, Part 9) — use that standard for numeric heights/strokes | § 403.2.4(b) |
| Reflectivity | Residential addresses must be reflectorized | § 403.2.4(c) |
| Visibility from Road | Permanently posted, plainly legible and visible from the Road fronting the property | § 403.2.5(a) |
| Private Road access | If not visible from public way, provide unobstructed sign or other means so address is visible from public way | § 403.2.5(b) |
| One-way Roads | Address signs must be visible from both directions | § 403.2.5(c) |
| Multiple addresses at one driveway | Mount on a single sign or post | § 403.2.5(d) |
| Single-business private Road | Place sign at nearest Road intersection providing access, or otherwise ensure unobstructed visibility from that intersection | § 403.2.5(e) |
| Timing & maintenance | Posted at the beginning of construction and maintained thereafter | § 403.2.5(f) |
Exceptions & special cases
- Utility and miscellaneous Group U buildings: The code allows the local jurisdiction to omit separate addresses for Utility and miscellaneous Group U buildings, but each Residential Unit must still be identified separately (§ 403.2.4(a)). Do not assume a Group U building needs no marking if local policy differs.
- Private Road visibility: If the building is down a private Road and numbers cannot be seen from the public way, the code requires an unobstructed sign or other means so the address is visible from the public way — this can include a post at the public road/driveway intersection or reflectorized driveway sign, subject to local approvals (§ 403.2.5(b)).
If you need exact letter heights, stroke widths, or reflectorization types, the CWUIC delegates those specifics to the California Fire Code (CCR Title 24, Part 9) — consult that standard or your local fire authority because CWUIC itself does not list numeric sizes in § 403.2.4(b).
Common mistakes
- Installing numbers that are not reflectorized on residences (violates § 403.2.4(c)).
- Mounting multiple addresses on separate posts instead of a single sign or post when they share a driveway (violates § 403.2.5(d)).
- Posting an address that is not visible from the Road fronting the property and failing to provide a sign visible from the public way when access is via a private Road (violates § 403.2.5(a–b)).
- Forgetting to post the address at the beginning of construction or failing to maintain the sign after construction (violates § 403.2.5(f)).
- Assuming one-way road signs only need to face traffic flow — CWUIC requires that address signs on one-way Roads be visible from both directions (§ 403.2.5(c)).
Worked example — rural house on a private road
Scenario: A single-family dwelling (residential Building) is at the end of a 600-foot private Road that connects to a public county road. The address has been assigned by the local jurisdiction.
What you must do under CWUIC:
- Ensure each Residential Unit is separately identified and that the address characters meet the California Fire Code sizing/format standard (see § 403.2.4(a–b)). The CWUIC does not give numeric letter heights; follow the Fire Code standard cited by § 403.2.4(b).
- Because the house is accessed by a private Road and cannot be read from the public county road, provide an unobstructed sign at the public road/driveway intersection (or another means) so the address is visible from the public way, per § 403.2.5(b). Reflectorize the residential address per § 403.2.4(c) so it’s visible at night.
- Post the address at the beginning of construction (if new) and maintain the sign thereafter (§ 403.2.5(f)).
Practical notes (not measurements from CWUIC): choose a durable post, mount numbers facing the public road, keep landscaping clear of the sign line-of-sight, and use reflectorized numerals per the Fire Code standard cited by § 403.2.4(b–c) to meet the intent. The CWUIC requires these outcomes but defers numeric sizing/details to the California Fire Code.
Related provisions
- § 403.2.2 — Road signs; size/format minimums for road name/number signs (relevant to consistent addressing systems).
- § 403.2.3 — Road sign installation, location and visibility (minimum visibility distance and intersection placement rules).
- § 403.1.10 — Gate entrance clearances and emergency operation (addresses must remain visible and accessible where gates are present).
- § 402.3 — Existing conditions: Existing buildings shall be provided with address markers in accordance with §§ 403.2.4 and 403.2.5.
Code references
Grounded in the retrieved California Wildland-Urban Interface Code — click a citation to read the verbatim passage:
CWUIC § 1274.02 High relevance — show source text
[CCR, Title 14 §1274.02]
403.2.4 Addresses for Buildings. (a) All Buildings shall be issued an address by the Local Jurisdiction which conforms to that jurisdiction's overall address system. Utility and miscellaneous Group U Buildings are not required to have a separate address; however, each Residential Unit within a Building shall be separately identified. (b) The size of letters, numbers and symbols for addresses shall conform to the standards in the California Fire Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 9. (c) Addresses for residential Buildings shall be reflectorized.
[CCR, Title 14 §1274.03]
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WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREA REQUIREMENTS
403.2.5 Address installation, location and visibility. (a) All buildings shall have a permanently posted address which shall be plainly legible and visible from the Road fronting the property. (b) Where access is by means of a private Road and the address identification cannot be viewed from the public way, an unob- structed sign or other means shall be used so that the address is visible from the public way. (c) Address signs along one-way Roads shall be visible from both directions. (d) Where multiple addresses are required at a single driveway, they shall be mounted on a single sign or post. (e) Where a Road provides access solely to a single commercial or industrial business, the address sign shall be placed at the near- est Road intersection providing access to that site, or otherwise posted to provide for unobstructed visibility from that intersection.
(f) In all cases, the address shall be posted at the beginning of construction and shall be maintained thereafter.
[CCR, Title 14 §1274.04]
SECTION 404—WATER SUPPLY
404.1 General. An approved water source shall have an adequate water supply for the use of the fire protection service to protect buildings and structures from exterior fire sources or to suppress structure fires within the wildland-urban interface area of the jurisdiction in accordance with this section.
404.2 Required water supply. An approved water supply capable of supplying the required fire flow for structural fire protection and wildland fire exposure shall be provided to the premises on which facilities, buildings or portions of buildings are hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction in accordance with Section 507 of the California Fire Code.
404.3 Draft sites. Approved draft sites shall be provided at natural water sources intended for use as fire protection for compliance with this code. The design, construction, location, access and access maintenance of draft sites shall be approved by the code official.
404.3.1 Access. The draft site shall have emergency vehicle access from an access road in accordance with Section 403.
404.3.2 Pumper access points. The pumper access point shall be either an emergency vehicle access area alongside a conforming access road or an approved driveway not longer than 150 feet (45 720 mm). Pumper access points and access driveways shall be designed and constructed in accordance with all codes and ordinances enforced by this jurisdiction. Pumper access points shall not require the pumper apparatus to obstruct a road or driveway.
CWUIC § 1274.00. High relevance — show source text
1274.00. Intent. To facilitate locating a fire and to avoid delays in response, all newly constructed or approved Roads and Buildings shall be designated by names or numbers posted on signs clearly visible and legible from the Road. This section shall not restrict the size of letters or numbers appearing on road signs for other purposes.
1274.01 Road signs. (a) Newly constructed or approved Roads must be identified by a name or number through a consistent system that provides for sequenced or patterned numbering and/or non-duplicative naming within each Local Jurisdiction. This section does not require any entity to rename or renumber existing roads, nor shall a Road providing access only to a single commercial or industrial Occupancy require naming or numbering. (b) The size of letters, numbers, and symbols for Road signs shall be a minimum four (4) inch letter height, half inch (.5) inch stroke, reflectorized, contrasting with the background color of the sign.
1274.02 Road sign installation, location, and visibility. (a) Road signs shall be visible and legible from both directions of vehicle travel for a distance of at least one hundred (100) feet. (b) Signs required by this article identifying intersecting Roads shall be placed at the intersection of those Roads. (c) A sign identifying traffic access or flow limitations, including but not limited to weight or vertical clearance limitations, dead- end roads, one-way roads, or single lane conditions, shall be placed: (1) at the intersection preceding the traffic access limitation, and (2) no more than one hundred (100) feet before such traffic access limitation. (d) Road signs required by this article shall be posted at the beginning of construction and shall be maintained thereafter.
1274.03 Addresses for buildings. (a) All Buildings shall be issued an address by the Local Jurisdiction which conforms to that jurisdiction's overall address system. Utility and miscellaneous Group U Buildings are not required to have a separate address; however, each Residential Unit within a Building shall be separately identified. (b) The size of letters, numbers, and symbols for addresses shall conform to the standards in the California Fire Code, California Code of Regulations title 24, part 9. (c) Addresses for residential Buildings shall be reflectorized.
1274.04 Address installation, location, and visibility. (a) All buildings shall have a permanently posted address which shall be plainly legible and visible from the Road fronting the property. (b) Where access is by means of a private Road and the address identification cannot be viewed from the public way, an unob- structed sign or other means shall be used so that the address is visible from the public way. (c) Address signs along one-way Roads shall be visible from both directions. (d) Where multiple addresses are required at a single driveway, they shall be mounted on a single sign or post. (e) Where a Road provides access solely to a single commercial or industrial business, the address sign shall be placed at the near- est Road intersection providing access to that site, or otherwise posted to provide for unobstructed visibility from that intersection.
(f) In all cases, the address shall be posted at the beginning of construction and shall be maintained thereafter.
Article 4 Emergency Water Standards
CWUIC § 1273.09 High relevance — show source text
Where security gates are installed, they shall have an approved means_ of emergency operation. Approval shall be by the local authority having jurisdiction. The security gates and the emergency operation shall be maintained operational at all times.
[CCR, Title 14 §1273.09]
403.2 Signing and building numbering.
403.2.1 Intent. To facilitate locating a fire and to avoid delays in response, all newly constructed or approved Roads and Buildings shall be designated by names or numbers posted on signs clearly visible and legible from the Road. This section shall not restrict the size of letters or numbers appearing on road signs for other purposes. [CCR, Title 14 §1274.00]
403.2.2 Road signs. (a) Newly constructed or approved Roads must be identified by a name or number through a consistent system that provides for sequenced or patterned numbering and/or nonduplicative naming within each Local Jurisdiction. This section does not require any entity to rename or renumber existing roads, nor shall a Road providing access only to a single commercial or industrial Occupancy require naming or numbering. (b) The size of letters, numbers and symbols for Road signs shall be a minimum four-inch letter height, half-inch stroke, reflector- ized, contrasting with the background color of the sign.
[CCR, Title 14 §1274.01]
403.2.3 Road sign installation, location, and visibility. (a) Road signs shall be visible and legible from both directions of vehicle travel for a distance of at least one hundred (100) feet. (b) Signs required by this article identifying intersecting Roads shall be placed at the intersection of those Roads. (c) A sign identifying traffic access or flow limitations, including but not limited to weight or vertical clearance limitations, dead- end roads, one-way roads, or single lane conditions, shall be placed: (1) at the intersection preceding the traffic access limitation, and (2) not more than one hundred (100) feet before such traffic access limitation. (d) Road signs required by this article shall be posted at the beginning of construction and shall be maintained thereafter.
[CCR, Title 14 §1274.02]
403.2.4 Addresses for Buildings. (a) All Buildings shall be issued an address by the Local Jurisdiction which conforms to that jurisdiction's overall address system. Utility and miscellaneous Group U Buildings are not required to have a separate address; however, each Residential Unit within a Building shall be separately identified. (b) The size of letters, numbers and symbols for addresses shall conform to the standards in the California Fire Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 9. (c) Addresses for residential Buildings shall be reflectorized.
[CCR, Title 14 §1274.03]
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WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREA REQUIREMENTS
403.2.5 Address installation, location and visibility. (a) All buildings shall have a permanently posted address which shall be plainly legible and visible from the Road fronting the property. (b) Where access is by means of a private Road and the address identification cannot be viewed from the public way, an unob- _structed sign or other means shall be used so that the address is visible from the public way.
CWUIC § 1274.03 High relevance — show source text
1274.03 Addresses for buildings. (a) All Buildings shall be issued an address by the Local Jurisdiction which conforms to that jurisdiction's overall address system. Utility and miscellaneous Group U Buildings are not required to have a separate address; however, each Residential Unit within a Building shall be separately identified. (b) The size of letters, numbers, and symbols for addresses shall conform to the standards in the California Fire Code, California Code of Regulations title 24, part 9. (c) Addresses for residential Buildings shall be reflectorized.
1274.04 Address installation, location, and visibility. (a) All buildings shall have a permanently posted address which shall be plainly legible and visible from the Road fronting the property. (b) Where access is by means of a private Road and the address identification cannot be viewed from the public way, an unob- structed sign or other means shall be used so that the address is visible from the public way. (c) Address signs along one-way Roads shall be visible from both directions. (d) Where multiple addresses are required at a single driveway, they shall be mounted on a single sign or post. (e) Where a Road provides access solely to a single commercial or industrial business, the address sign shall be placed at the near- est Road intersection providing access to that site, or otherwise posted to provide for unobstructed visibility from that intersection.
(f) In all cases, the address shall be posted at the beginning of construction and shall be maintained thereafter.
Article 4 Emergency Water Standards
1275.00 Intent. Emergency water for Wildfire protection shall be available, accessible, and maintained in quantities and locations spec- ified in the statute and these regulations in order to attack a Wildfire or defend property from a Wildfire.
1275.01 Application. The provisions of this article shall apply in the tentative and parcel map process when new parcels are approved by the Local Jurisdiction.
APPENDIX H-14 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE
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APPENDIX H—REFERENCED CALIFORNIA DOCUMENTS
1275.02 Water supply. (a) When a water supply for structure defense is required to be installed, such protection shall be installed and made serviceable prior to and during the time of construction except when alternative methods of protection are provided and approved by the Local Jurisdiction.
(b) Water systems equaling or exceeding the California Fire Code, California Code of Regulations title 24, part 9, or, where a munic- ipal-type water supply is unavailable, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1142, “Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting,” 2017 Edition, hereby incorporated by reference, shall be accepted as meeting the require- ments of this article.
(c) Such emergency water may be provided in a fire agency mobile water tender, or naturally occurring or man made containment structure, as long as the specified quantity is immediately available. (d) Nothing in this article prohibits the combined storage of emergency Wildfire and structural firefighting water supplies unless so prohibited by local ordinance or specified by the local fire agency. (e) Where freeze or crash protection is required by Local Jurisdictions, such protection measures shall be provided.
CWUIC § 402.1.1 High relevance — show source text
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
507|||||| |402.2.1|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)
1273.01(b)
1273.01(c)||||| |403.1.3|Road Surfaces|Y||||1273.02(a)
1273.02(b)
1273.02(c)||||| |403.1.4|Grades|Y||||1273.03(a)
1273.03(b)||||| |403.1.5|Radius|Y||||1273.04(a)
1273.04(b)||||| |403.1.6|Turnarounds|Y||||1273.05(a)
1273.05(b)
1273.05(c)
1273.05(d)
1273.05(e)
1273.05(f)
1273.05(g)||||| |Figure A|Turnaround with two
10' traffic lanes|Y||||Figure A||||| |Figure B|Turnaround with one
10' traffic lane|Y||||Figure B||||| |403.1.7|Turnouts|Y||||1273.06||||| |403.1.8|Road and driveway
structures|Y||||1273.07(a)
1273.07(b)
1273.07(c)
1273.07(d)||||| |403.1.9|Dead-end roads|Y||||1273.08(a)
1273.08(b)||||| |403.10|Gate Entrances|Y||||1273.09(a)
1273.09(b)
1273.09(c)
1273.09(d)||||| |403.2|Signing and Building
Numbering|Y||||Article 3||||| |403.2.1|Intent|Y||||1274.00||||| |403.2.2|Road signs|Y||||1274.01||||| |403.2.3|Road Sign
Installation, Location
and Visibility|Y||||1274.02(a)
1274.02(b)
1274.02(c)
1274.02(d)||||| |403.2.4|Addresses for
Buildings|Y||||1274.03(a)
1274.03(b)
1274.03(c)||||| ||||||||||||2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE APPENDIX H-27
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CWUIC § 903.3.1.1.1 Medium relevance — show source text
Exempt locations 903.3.1.1.1, 903.3.1.1.2
Factory 903.2.4 Fire areas 707.3.10
Hazardous materials Table 414.2.5.1, Table 414.2.5.2, 903.2.11.4 Hazardous occupancies 415.4, 415.11.7.4, 415.11.12, 705.9.1,
903.2.5 Height increase Table 504.3 High-rise buildings 403.3, 903.2.11.3 Incidental uses Table 509.1
2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE INDEX-19
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INDEX
Ladders 408.3.5, 410.5.3.4, 1011.15,
1011.16 Landings 1011.6, 1011.8 Live load Table 1607.1, 1607.9 Locking 1010.2.6 Luminous 403.5.5, 411.4.1, 1025 Roof access 1011.12 Seismic anchorage 2308.8.10 Spiral (see Spiral Stairways) 408.3.4, 410.5.3.4, 508.5.5, 1011.10 Stepped aisles 1030.14.2 Transitions 1030.9.7, 1030.9.8,
1030.10
Travel distance 1017.3.1
Treads and risers 1011.4, 1011.5 Width/capacity 1005.3.1, 1011.2 Winders 1011.4, 1011.5, 1011.10 Stairway Enclosure 713.1, 1019, 1023 Accessibility 1009.3 Construction 1019, 1023.2 Discharge 1023.3.1, 1028.2 Doors 716.2.6.1, 1010.2.6 Elevators within 1023.4, 3002.7 Exit access 1019
Exterior walls 705.2, 707.4, 708.5, 713.6, 1023.2, 1027.6 Fire-resistant construction 1019.2,
1023.2
Group I-2 1019.4 Group I-3 408.3.8, 1019.4 High-rise 403.5 Penetrations 1023.5
Pressurization 909.6, 1023.12 Smokeproof 403.5.4, 405.7.2, 909.20, 1023.12
CWUIC § 3-3 Medium relevance — show source text
301 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-3
302 Wildland-Urban Interface Area Designations . . . . . .3-3
CHAPTER 4 WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREA
REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
401 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
402 Applicability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
403 Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
404 Water Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-7
CHAPTER 5 SPECIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
REGULATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
501 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3
502 Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3
503 Ignition-Resistant Construction and Material. . . . . .5-3
504 Ignition-Resistant Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-4
505 Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-9
506 Reserved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-9
507 Replacement or Repair of Roof Coverings. . . . . . . . .5-9
CHAPTER 6 FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS. . . . . . .6-3
601 General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
602 Fire Protection Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
603 Vegetation Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
604 Maintenance of Defensible Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
CWUIC § 403.2 Medium relevance — show source text
APPENDIX I-4 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE
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Access Applicability 402 Driveways 403.2 Fire apparatus access roads 403.3 Grade 403.7
Individual structures 402.2 Marking of roads 402.3, 403.4 Restricted 403.1
Subdivisions 402.1 Accessory Buildings and Miscellaneous Structures
Defined 202
Detached 504.11 Exempt from permit 105.3 Additions or Alterations 101.5
Address Markers 402.3 Agriculture 202 Alternative Materials or Methods 104.2.2
Appeals 112 Appendices 101.2.1 Applicable Building 202 Applicability 102 Approved 202 Approved Agency 104.2.2.6.1, 202 Authority of Code Official 104
Building 202 Building Official 202
Certificate of Completion 111 Certificate of occupancy 111.2 Revocation 111.4
Temporary occupancy 111.3
Code Official 202 Code Official, Authority 104 Community Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework Appendix C Compliance Alternatives 105 Construction Documents 106
Amended 106.10
Examination of 106.9 Information on plans and specifications 106.2 Phased 106.12
Previous approval 106.11 Retention of 106.8 Site plan 106.3 Vegetation management plans 106.4 Control of Storage Appendix A, A105 Critical Fire Weather 202
Dead-end Road 202 Defensible Space 403, 601.3 Vegetation Plan 603 Definitions 202 Designation of Wildland-Urban Interface Area 302.1
Director 202 Driveway 202 Dumping Appendix A, A106 Dwelling 202
Exterior Covering 202
INDEX
Fees 109 Findings of Fact Appendix E Fire Chief 202 Fire Danger Rating System Appendix D Fire Flow Calculation Area Application 404.5 Defined 202 Fire Hazard Severity Zones 1.1.2, 202, 302.1, 302.2, Appendix D, Appendix H Fire Protection Plans 602
Fire Weather 202
Fire-Resistance-Rated Construction 501.3 Fire-Resistive Vegetation Appendix F Fire-Retardant-Treated Lumber or
Wood 503.2, 504.5, 504.7, 504.11 Flame Spread Index 202 Flashing 504.2.1, 504.5.1 Fuel Break 202, 609 Fuel Models Appendix D Fuel Modification 202
Fuel Modification Distance 603.2
Fuel Mosaic 202 Fuel-Loading 202
General Requirements Appendix A Green Belt 202
Greenways 202
CWUIC § 1-21 Medium relevance — show source text
107 Temporary Uses, Equipment and Systems . . . . . . 1-21
108 Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
109 Inspection and Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
110 Certificate of Completion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
111 Service Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
112 Means of Appeals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
113 Stop Work Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
CHAPTER 2 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
201 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3
202 Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3
CHAPTER 3 WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREAS . . . . 3-3
301 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-3
302 Wildland-Urban Interface Area Designations . . . . . .3-3
CHAPTER 4 WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREA
REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
401 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
402 Applicability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
403 Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
404 Water Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-7
CHAPTER 5 SPECIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
REGULATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
501 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3
CWUIC § 402.3 Medium relevance — show source text
402.3 Existing conditions. Existing buildings shall be provided with address markers in accordance with Sections 403.2.4 and 403.2.5 . Existing roads and fire protection equipment shall be provided with markings in accordance with Sections 403.4 and 404.8, respectively.
SECTION 403—ACCESS
USER NOTE: The standards in Section 403 applicable to roads shall not apply to roads used solely for agriculture; mining; or the management of timberland or harvesting of forest products. [CCR, Title 14 §1270.03(d)]
403.1 General. Roads and driveways, whether public or private, unless exempted under 14 CCR § 1270.03(d), shall provide for safe access for emergency wildfire equipment and civilian evacuation concurrently, and shall provide unobstructed traffic circulation during a wildfire emergency consistent 403.1.1 to 403.1.9. [CCR, Title 14 §1273.00]
403.1.1 Section 403 definitions. When used in Section 403, the term listed below shall be defined as follows:
DEFENSIBLE SPACE. The area within the perimeter of a parcel, development, neighborhood or community where basic wildland fire protection practices and measures are implemented to defend against encroaching wildfire or to escape structure fires. The perimeter as used in this regulation [CCR Title 14] is the area encompassing 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 emer- gency vehicle access, emergency water reserves, road names and identification, and fuel modification measures. [CCR Title 14 §1270.01(f)]
2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE 4-3
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREA REQUIREMENTS
403.1.2 Width.
(a) All Roads shall be constructed to provide a minimum of two ten-foot traffic lanes, not including shoulder and striping. These traffic lanes shall provide for two-way traffic flow to support emergency vehicle and civilian egress, unless other standards are provided in this article or additional requirements are mandated by local jurisdictions or local subdivision requirements. Verti- cal clearances shall conform to the requirements in California Vehicle Code Section 35250. (b) All one-way roads shall be constructed to provide a minimum of one twelve-foot traffic lane, not including Shoulders. The Local Jurisdiction may approve One-way Roads. (1) All one-way roads shall, at both ends, connect to a road with two traffic lanes providing for travel in different directions, and shall provide access to an area currently zoned for not more than ten (10) Residential Units. (2) In no case shall a One-way Road exceed 2,640 feet in length. A turnout shall be placed and constructed at approximately the midpoint of each One-way Road. (c) All Driveways shall be constructed to provide a minimum of one (1) ten-foot traffic lane, fourteen (14) feet unobstructed hori- zontal clearance, and unobstructed vertical clearance of thirteen feet, six inches (13' 6”).
[CCR, Title 14 §1273.01]
403.1.3 Road surfaces.
CWUIC § 1.11. Medium relevance — show source text
Adopting Agency BSC BSC-
CGSFM HCD Col6 Col7 DSA Col9 Col10 OSHPD Col12 Col13 Col14 Col15 Col16 Col17 BSCC DPH AGR DWR CEC CA SL SLC Adopting Agency BSC BSC-
CGSFM 1 2 1/AC AC SS SS/CC 1 1R 2 3 4 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 Adopt Entire Chapter Adopt Entire Chapter as
amended (amended
sections listed below)Adopt only those sections
that are listed belowChapter / Section The state agency does not adopt sections identified with 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.
2025 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE APPENDIX C-25
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
APPENDIX C-26 2025 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
APPENDIX C—GUIDELINES FOR THE WIND RETROFIT OF EXISTING BUILDINGS
CHAPTER C2 ROOF DECK FASTENING FOR HIGH-WIND AREAS
SECTION C201—GENERAL
[BS] C201.1 Purpose. This chapter provides prescriptive methods for partial structural retrofit of an existing building to increase its resistance to wind loads. It is intended for voluntary use where the basic wind speed, V, is greater than 130 mph (58 m/s) in accordance with Figure 1609.3(2) of the California Building Code and for reference by mitigation programs. The provisions of this chapter do not necessarily satisfy requirements for new construction. Unless specifically cited, the provisions of this chapter do not necessarily satisfy requirements for structural improvements triggered by addition, alteration, repair, change of occupancy, building relocation or other circumstances.
[BS] C201.2 Eligible conditions. The provisions of this chapter are applicable only to buildings that meet either of the following eligibility requirements:
- Buildings assigned to Risk Category I or II in accordance with Table 1604.5 of the California Building Code .
- Buildings within the scope of the California Residential Code .
SECTION C202—ROOF DECK ATTACHMENT FOR WOOD ROOFS
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
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the address for my new building?
The local jurisdiction issues the address; CWUIC requires an address conforming to the jurisdiction’s overall addressing system (§ 403.2.4(a)).
Do I have to use reflectorized numbers?
Yes — addresses for residential Buildings are required to be reflectorized under § 403.2.4(c).
What if my house is down a long private driveway?
If the assigned address cannot be read from the public way, you must provide an unobstructed sign or other means so the address is visible from the public way, per § 403.2.5(b).
Can I mount multiple addresses on separate posts for a shared driveway?
No — multiple addresses required at a single driveway must be mounted on a single sign or post (§ 403.2.5(d)).
When must the address be posted?
The address must be posted at the beginning of construction and maintained thereafter (§ 403.2.5(f)).
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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