CWUIC · California Wildland-Urban Interface Code
Fire hydrant design, location, spacing and access
If you’re in the Wildland‑Urban Interface, hydrants must be built to national standards, placed and signed so fire crews can reach them, and supplied in the numbers and spacing required by the Fire Code Appendix — see **§ 404.4** for the link to the Appendix and **§ 404.8** for marking details.
Last reviewed: July 6, 2026
What the code requires — plain English
Fire hydrants serving wildland‑urban interface properties must be designed to nationally recognized standards, placed so the fire department can reach them, and spaced/numbered according to the California Fire Code Appendix C or CC. These requirements are enforced from the Wildland‑Urban Interface Code: § 404.4 (hydrant construction, location, spacing reference) and § 404.8 (identification and marking).
The single most important rule: hydrants must be built to accepted standards, located and signed so fire crews can find and use them, and provided in the quantity and spacing the Fire Code Appendix requires.
Requirements in detail
What § 404.4 requires (design, number, spacing)
- Hydrants must be designed and constructed in accordance with nationally recognized standards, and their location and access must be approved by the code official. The number and spacing are taken from the California Fire Code Appendix C or CC (whichever applies). § 404.4.
- Existing public hydrants may be counted toward required hydrant totals, but hydrants on adjacent private property are only creditable when an access road and easement ensure unobstructed apparatus access (see Appendix CC/CC104.1).
What § 404.8 requires (identification & marking)
- Each hydrant and its access route must be clearly identified in a manner approved by the code official. Typical, specified markings include a reflectorized blue marker minimum 3 inches (73 mm) in dimension mounted on a fire‑retardant post. Where on an access road the marker must be within 3 feet (914 mm) of the hydrant and the sign mounted horizontally between 3 feet (914 mm) and 5 feet (1524 mm) above grade. § 404.8.
How Appendix CC (fire‑flow → hydrant counts/spacing) ties in
- Appendix CC provides the numeric rules (minimum hydrant count, average spacing, and maximum distance from street/frontage to a hydrant) based on the required fire‑flow for the building(s). The Wildland‑Urban Interface Code explicitly refers you to Appendix C or CC for these distributions as called out in § 404.4.
Decision‑relevant dimensions/values (from Table CC105.1)
| Fire‑flow required (gpm) | Minimum # hydrants | Average spacing between hydrants (feet) | Max distance from any point on street/frontage to a hydrant (feet) | Code Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,750 or less | 1 | 500 | 250 | Table CC105.1 / Appendix CC |
| 2,000–2,250 | 2 | 450 | 225 | Table CC105.1 / Appendix CC |
| 2,500 | 3 | 450 | 225 | Table CC105.1 / Appendix CC |
| 3,000 | 3 | 400 | 225 | Table CC105.1 / Appendix CC |
| 3,500–4,000 | 4 | 350 | 210 | Table CC105.1 / Appendix CC |
| 4,500–5,000 | 5 | 300 | 180 | Table CC105.1 / Appendix CC |
| 5,500 | 6 | 300 | 180 | Table CC105.1 / Appendix CC |
| 6,000 | 6 | 250 | 150 | Table CC105.1 / Appendix CC |
| 6,500–7,000 | 7 | 250 | 150 | Table CC105.1 / Appendix CC |
| 7,500 or more | 8 or more | 200 | 120 | Table CC105.1 / Appendix CC |
Key table footnotes and adjustments to remember:
- For dead‑end streets: reduce average spacing by 100 ft and reduce maximum distance to hydrant by 50 ft (per the table footnotes).
- Where existing hydrants supply all/part of required service, the average spacing may be increased by 10% per the Appendix CC exception (credit for existing hydrants).
- Spacing increases are permitted where a building is fully sprinklered (e.g., 50% increase allowed under certain sprinkler coverage criteria, and 25% under others) — see the Fire Code Appendix notes for the allowable percent increases and controlling sprinkler sections.
Exceptions & special cases
- Existing public hydrants can be counted toward requirements; private adjacent hydrants require an access road and easement to be creditable (Appendix CC/CC104.1).
- If public or private water mains are not available (no water main within 1,000 feet of the building), the code directs alternate protection methods (sprinklers, tanks, NFPA procedures) rather than typical hydrant distribution — see CWUIC § 404.2 and Appendix CC guidance.
- The local fire code official is authorized to modify location, number and distribution of hydrants based on site‑specific constraints and hazards — expect conditions, terrain, and access to influence final requirements.
Common mistakes
- Assuming any nearby private hydrant counts without confirming an easement and unobstructed fire apparatus access road (Appendix CC/CC104.1).
- Placing hydrants but failing to install the required reflectorized blue marker or mounting it outside the 3–5 ft height window; poor marking can make hydrants effectively unusable at night or in heavy smoke (see § 404.8).
- Forgetting to apply dead‑end reductions or sprinkler‑system spacing adjustments when calculating required number/spacing — these footnotes materially change counts/distances (see Table CC105.1).
- Not submitting hydraulic calculations and hydrant plans to the fire department for review during permitting (required under the Fire Code’s fire‑service features and construction document rules).
Worked example — concrete scenario
Situation: A new commercial building in a WUI subdivision requires a fire‑flow of 4,000 gpm.
- Start with the Table: 3,500–4,000 gpm row → minimum 4 hydrants, average spacing 350 ft, max distance to frontage 210 ft. (Appendix CC Table CC105.1)
- If the building is on a dead‑end street, apply the footnotes: average spacing is reduced by 100 ft → 350 − 100 = 250 ft; max distance to frontage reduced by 50 ft → 210 − 50 = 160 ft. Confirm that 4 hydrants placed with ~250 ft average spacing meet both the average and maximum‑distance requirements.
- If existing public hydrants will be used for part of the requirement, the jurisdiction may permit up to 10% deficiency (shortfall) in average spacing when existing hydrants supply all or part of the service; document which hydrants are credited and show access/easements.
- Mark each hydrant with a reflectorized blue marker (min 3 in / 73 mm) on a fire‑retardant post, positioned within 3 ft (914 mm) of the hydrant and 3–5 ft above grade, visible from the access road. § 404.8.
Related provisions (CWUIC)
- § 404.1 — General water supply objective and applicability.
- § 404.2 — Required water supply; references fire‑flow determination and alternatives.
- § 404.3 / 404.3.1 / 404.3.2 — Draft sites and pumper access requirements for natural water sources.
- § 404.7 — Obstruction prohibition: hydrants and water‑supply access must remain unobstructed.
- § 404.9 — Testing and maintenance obligations for hydrants and water‑supply equipment.
- Appendix CC (CC101–CC105) — Location, number, distribution and exceptions for hydrants including Table CC105.1 (primary numeric guidance referenced by § 404.4).
Code references
Grounded in the retrieved California Wildland-Urban Interface Code — click a citation to read the verbatim passage:
CWUIC § 17742.5 High relevance — show source text
SECTION CC104—CONSIDERATION OF EXISTING FIRE HYDRANTS
CC104.1 Existing fire hydrants on public streets are allowed to be considered as available. Existing fire hydrants on adjacent properties shall not be considered available unless fire apparatus access roads extend between properties and easements are established to prevent obstruction of such roads.
SECTION CC105—DISTRIBUTION OF FIRE HYDRANTS
CC105.1 The average spacing between fire hydrants shall not exceed that listed in Table CC105.1.
Exception: A deficiency of up to 10 percent shall not be allowed when existing fire hydrants provide all, or a portion, of the required fire hydrant service.
Regardless of the average spacing, fire hydrants shall be located such that all points on streets and access roads adjacent to a build- ing are within the distances listed in Table CC105.1.
CC105.2 When public or private water mains are not available to supply fire flow [not within 1,000 feet (304 800 mm) of the proposed building], the following alternatives shall be used: 1. Building(s) shall be protected by an automatic sprinkler system Exception: Portable (relocatable) buildings, as defined in California Education Code Section 17742.5(e), which requires that portable buildings be designed and constructed to be relocatable over public streets, shall be designed and constructed for relocation without the separation of the roof or floor from the building and when measured at the most exterior walls, shall have a floor area not in excess of 2,000 square feet (186 m [2] ). Such portable buildings shall be separated from other structures in groupings not to exceed 9,100 square feet (845 m [2] ) in building area (pursuant to Table 503, California Building Code, for Type V- B buildings). Further area increases shall be as approved by the local fire authority having jurisdiction and the state fire marshal.
The water for sprinklers may be supplied by the domestic system, a pressure tank, a gravity tank or other means in accordance with NPFA 13. Water tanks shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 22. (See the California Building Code, Chapter 9.) 2. When the adequate fire flow is not available and the water for sprinklers is provided from a source other than a public water supply, the amount of water to supply the system shall be calculated using the area/density method or the room design method as delineated in NFPA 13. The calculated duration of water flow to sprinklers shall not be less than 15 minutes to 10 heads.
3. The sprinkler system shall have a water flow alarm monitored by an approved central, proprietary or remote station service or a local alarm which will give audible and visual signals at a constant attended location. 4. When this alternative is utilized and the calculated water duration to a sprinkler is less than NFPA 13 recommendations, the area increases and fire resistive substitutions allowed in Chapter 5 of the California Building Code shall not be permitted.
2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE APPENDIX CC-3
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
APPENDIX CC—FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
CWUIC § 903.3.1.1 High relevance — show source text
Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.
f. A 50-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.1 of the_California Fire Code_.
g. A 25-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3 of the_California Fire Code_ or Section P2904 of the_California Residential Code_.
h. The fire code official is authorized to modify the location, number and distribution of fire hydrants based on site-specific constraints and hazards.|For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers that cannot be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes
and have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis.
c. Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at
spacing not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.
f. A 50-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.1 of the_California Fire Code_.
g. A 25-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3 of the_California Fire Code_ or Section P2904 of the_California Residential Code_.
h. The fire code official is authorized to modify the location, number and distribution of fire hydrants based on site-specific constraints and hazards.|2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE APPENDIX C-3
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
APPENDIX C—FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
SECTION C103—FIRE HYDRANT SPACING
C103.1 Hydrant spacing. Fire apparatus access roads and public streets providing required access to buildings in accordance with Section 503 shall be provided with one or more fire hydrants, as determined by Section C102.1. Where more than one fire hydrant is required, the distance between required fire hydrants shall be in accordance with Sections C103.2 and C103.3.
C103.2 Average spacing. The average spacing between fire hydrants shall be in accordance with Table C102.1.
Exception: The average spacing shall be permitted to be increased by 10 percent where existing fire hydrants provide all or a portion of the required number of fire hydrants.
C103.3 Maximum spacing. The maximum spacing between fire hydrants shall be in accordance with Table C102.1.
CWUIC § 1274.04 High relevance — show source text
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.
404.4 Hydrants. Hydrants shall be designed and constructed in accordance with nationally recognized standards. The location and access shall be approved by the code official. The number and spacing of fire hydrants shall be in accordance with Appendix C or CC of the California Fire Code, as applicable.
404.5 Adequate water supply. Fire-flow requirements shall be determined in accordance with Appendix B or BB of the California Fire Code, as applicable.
404.6 Reserved.
404.7 Obstructions. Access to water sources required by this code shall be unobstructed at all times. The fire department shall not be deterred or hindered from gaining immediate access to water source equipment, fire protection equipment or hydrants.
404.8 Identification. Water sources, draft sites, hydrants and fire protection equipment and hydrants shall be clearly identified in a manner approved by the code official to identify location and to prevent obstruction by parking and other obstructions. Each fire hydrant and access to a water supply shall be identified in accordance with one of the following: 1. Where located along a driveway, a reflectorized blue marker with a minimum dimension of 3 inches (73 mm) shall be located on the driveway address sign and mounted on a fire-retardant post. 2. Where located along an access road: 2.2. A reflectorized blue marker with a minimum dimension of 3 inches (73 mm) shall be mounted on a fire-retardant post. The signpost shall be within 3 feet (914 mm) of said fire hydrant with the sign not less than 3 feet (914 mm) nor greater than 5 feet (1524 mm) above ground, in a horizontal position and visible from the driveway. _2.3.
CWUIC § 304.8 High relevance — show source text
Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads._
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.|For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers which can be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes and
have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis up to a fire-flow
requirement of 7,000 gallons per minute and 400 feet for higher fire-flow requirements.
c Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at spacing
not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.|For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers which can be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes and
have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis up to a fire-flow
requirement of 7,000 gallons per minute and 400 feet for higher fire-flow requirements.
c Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at spacing
not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.|APPENDIX CC-4 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE
APPENDIX D – FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS
(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)
CWUIC § 304.8 High relevance — show source text
Where streets are provided with median dividers which can be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes and_
have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis up to a fire-flow
requirement of 7,000 gallons per minute and 400 feet for higher fire-flow requirements.
c Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at spacing
not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.|For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers which can be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes and
have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis up to a fire-flow
requirement of 7,000 gallons per minute and 400 feet for higher fire-flow requirements.
c Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at spacing
not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.|For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers which can be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes and
have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis up to a fire-flow
requirement of 7,000 gallons per minute and 400 feet for higher fire-flow requirements.
c Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at spacing
not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.|For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
_b.CWUIC § 102.7 High relevance — show source text
Chapters 68 through 79 Reserved for future use.
PART VI—REFERENCED STANDARDS
Chapter 80 Referenced Standards
Chapter 80 lists all of the product and installation standards and codes that are referenced throughout Chapters 1 through 67 and includes identification of the promulgators and the section numbers in which the standards and codes are referenced. As stated in Section 102.7, 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.
PART VII—APPENDICES
Appendix Chapter 4 Special Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy
Appendix Chapter 4 provides detailed criteria for special uses and occupancies. The unique characteristics of a live/work unit as opposed to a 30-story high-rise building call for specific standards for each. Twenty-seven sections address covered and open mall buildings, atri- ums, hospitals, stages, buildings where hazardous materials are used and stored, jails and prisons, ambulatory care facilities and storm shelters, among other special occupancy issues.
Appendix A Board of Appeals
Appendix A contains the provisions for appeal and the establishment of a board of appeals. The provisions include the application for an appeal, the makeup of the board of appeals and the conduct of the appeal process.
Appendix B Fire-Flow Requirements for Buildings
Appendix B provides a tool for the use of jurisdictions in establishing a policy for determining fire-flow requirements in accordance with Section 507.3. The primary tool used in this appendix is a table that presents fire flow based on construction type and building area based on the correlation of the Insurance Services Office (ISO) method and the construction types used in the CBC.
Appendix BB Fire-flow Requirements for Buildings
The procedures determining fire-flow requirements for any school buildings or portions of buildings hereafter constructed for which review and approval is required under Subdivision(a) of Section 17280 of the Government Code shall be in accordance with this appendix as amended by the state fire marshal.
Appendix C Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution
Appendix C focuses on the location and spacing of fire hydrants, which is important to the success of firefighting operations. This particular appendix gives one methodology based on the required fire flow that fire departments can work with to set a policy for hydrant distribution around new buildings and facilities in conjunction with Section 507.5.
Appendix CC Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution
Fire hydrants shall be provided in accordance with this appendix for the protection of any school buildings, or portions thereof, hereafter constructed for which review and approval are required under Subdivision(a) of Section 17280 of the Government Code.
Appendix D Fire Apparatus Access Roads
Appendix D contains more detailed elements for use with the basic access requirements found in Section 503. This appendix, like Appendices B and C, is a tool for jurisdictions looking for guidance in establishing access requirements and includes criteria for multiple-family residential developments, large one- and two-family subdivisions, specific examples for various types of turnarounds for fire department apparatus and parking regulatory signage.
Appendix E Hazard Categories
Appendix E contains guidance in the classifying of hazardous materials so that proposed designs can be evaluated intelligently and accurately. The descriptive materials and explanations of hazardous materials and how to report and evaluate them on a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) are intended to be instructional as well as informative.
Appendix F Hazard Ranking
CWUIC § 903.3.1.1 High relevance — show source text
Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at
spacing not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.
f. A 50-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.1 of the_California Fire Code_.
g. A 25-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3 of the_California Fire Code_ or Section P2904 of the_California Residential Code_.
h. The fire code official is authorized to modify the location, number and distribution of fire hydrants based on site-specific constraints and hazards.|For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers that cannot be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes
and have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis.
c. Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at
spacing not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.
f. A 50-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.1 of the_California Fire Code_.
g. A 25-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3 of the_California Fire Code_ or Section P2904 of the_California Residential Code_.
h. The fire code official is authorized to modify the location, number and distribution of fire hydrants based on site-specific constraints and hazards.|For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers that cannot be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes
and have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis.
c. Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at
spacing not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.
f.CWUIC § 17742.5 High relevance — show source text
- The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 19, Division 1 provisions that are found in the California Fire 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.
2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE APPENDIX CC-1
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
APPENDIX CC-2 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
CC FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
SECTION CC101—SCOPE
CC101.1 Fire hydrants shall be provided in accordance with this appendix for the protection of any school buildings, or portions thereof hereafter constructed for which review and approval are required under Subdivision(a) of Section 17280 of the Government Code.
SECTION CC102—LOCATION
CC102.1 Fire hydrants shall be provided along required fire apparatus access roads and adjacent public streets.
SECTION CC103—NUMBER OF FIRE HYDRANTS
CC103.1 The minimum number of fire hydrants available to a building shall not be less than that listed in Table CC105.1. The number of fire hydrants available to a complex or subdivision shall not be less than that determined by spacing requirements listed in Table CC105.1 when applied to fire apparatus access roads and perimeter streets from which fire operations could be conducted.
SECTION CC104—CONSIDERATION OF EXISTING FIRE HYDRANTS
CC104.1 Existing fire hydrants on public streets are allowed to be considered as available. Existing fire hydrants on adjacent properties shall not be considered available unless fire apparatus access roads extend between properties and easements are established to prevent obstruction of such roads.
SECTION CC105—DISTRIBUTION OF FIRE HYDRANTS
CC105.1 The average spacing between fire hydrants shall not exceed that listed in Table CC105.1.
Exception: A deficiency of up to 10 percent shall not be allowed when existing fire hydrants provide all, or a portion, of the required fire hydrant service.
Regardless of the average spacing, fire hydrants shall be located such that all points on streets and access roads adjacent to a build- ing are within the distances listed in Table CC105.1.
CC105.2 When public or private water mains are not available to supply fire flow [not within 1,000 feet (304 800 mm) of the proposed building], the following alternatives shall be used: 1. Building(s) shall be protected by an automatic sprinkler system Exception: Portable (relocatable) buildings, as defined in California Education Code Section 17742.5(e), which requires that portable buildings be designed and constructed to be relocatable over public streets, shall be designed and constructed for relocation without the separation of the roof or floor from the building and when measured at the most exterior walls, shall have a floor area not in excess of 2,000 square feet (186 m [2] _).
CWUIC § 507.5. High relevance — show source text
APPENDIX C – FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
(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 C101.1 X - The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 19, Division 1 provisions that are found in the California Fire 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.
2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE APPENDIX C-1
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
APPENDIX C-2 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
C FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
The provisions contained in this appendix are not mandatory unless specifically referenced in the adopting ordinance or legislation of the jurisdiction.
User notes:
About this appendix: Appendix C focuses on the location and spacing of fire hydrants, which is important to the success of firefighting operations. The difficulty with determining the spacing of fire hydrants is that every situation is unique and has unique challenges. Finding one methodology for determining hydrant spacing is difficult. This particular appendix gives one methodology based on the required fire flow that fire departments can work with to set a policy for hydrant distribution around new buildings and facilities in conjunction with Section 507.5.
ICC code development note: Code change proposals to this appendix will be considered by the IFC Code Development Committee during the 2024 (Group
A) Code Development Cycle.
SECTION C101—GENERAL
CWUIC § 903.3.1.1 High relevance — show source text
Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers that cannot be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes
and have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis.
c. Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at
spacing not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.
f. A 50-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.1 of the_California Fire Code_.
g. A 25-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3 of the_California Fire Code_ or Section P2904 of the_California Residential Code_.
h. The fire code official is authorized to modify the location, number and distribution of fire hydrants based on site-specific constraints and hazards.|For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers that cannot be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes
and have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis.
c. Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at
spacing not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.
f. A 50-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.1 of the_California Fire Code_.
g. A 25-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3 of the_California Fire Code_ or Section P2904 of the_California Residential Code_.
h. The fire code official is authorized to modify the location, number and distribution of fire hydrants based on site-specific constraints and hazards.|For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers that cannot be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes
and have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis.
c.CWUIC § 000-2 High relevance — show source text
APPENDIX CC—FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
TABLE CC105.1—NUMBER AND DISTRIBUTION OF FIRE HYDRANTS Col2 Col3 Col4 FIRE-FLOW REQUIREMENT
(gpm)MINIMUM NUMBER OF
HYDRANTSAVERAGE SPACING BETWEEN
HYDRANTSa, b, c(feet)MAXIMUM DISTANCE FROM ANY POINT ON STREET
OR ROAD FRONTAGE TO A HYDRANTd1,750 or less _1 _ 500 250 2,000-2,250 _2 _ 450 225 2,500 _3 _ 450 225 3,000 _3 _ 400 225 3,500-4,000 _4 _ 350 210 4,500-5,000 _5 _ 300 180 5,500 _6 _ 300 180 6,000 _6 _ 250 150 6,500-7,000 _7 _ 250 150 7,500 or more _8 or moree _ 200 120 For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers which can be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes and
have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis up to a fire-flow
requirement of 7,000 gallons per minute and 400 feet for higher fire-flow requirements.
c Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at spacing
not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers which can be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes and
have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis up to a fire-flow
requirement of 7,000 gallons per minute and 400 feet for higher fire-flow requirements.
c Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at spacing
not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
_d.
Frequently asked questions
If my property is inside the WUI, do I always need a hydrant on my street?
Not always—requirements depend on the building’s required fire‑flow and the hydrant distribution in Appendix C or CC. If no water main is within 1,000 ft, alternate measures (sprinklers, tanks) apply. See § 404.2 and Appendix CC.
Can I rely on an existing hydrant across a fence or private lot?
Only if a fire apparatus access road exists between properties and an easement prevents obstruction; otherwise the hydrant is not creditable (Appendix CC/CC104.1).
How should hydrants be marked so firefighters can find them?
Install a reflectorized blue marker minimum 3 inches (73 mm) on a fire‑retardant post within 3 feet (914 mm) of the hydrant; mount the sign horizontally 3–5 feet above ground (per § 404.8).
What happens if my site is on a dead‑end road?
Table CC105.1 footnotes require reducing average spacing by 100 ft and reducing maximum frontage distance by 50 ft for dead‑end streets; apply those adjustments when you size/position hydrants.
Who can change the number or location of hydrants?
The local fire code official can modify location, number and distribution based on site‑specific constraints and hazards; document the basis for any modification.
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)
Ask about the CWUIC
Get cited, plain-English answers on the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code for your project — any code section, any scenario.
Start Free Trial