Section 1.1 — GENERAL

1.1.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, may be cited as such, and will be referred to herein as “this code.” The California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is Part 7 of thirteen parts of the official compilation and publica- tion of the adoptions, amendment, and repeal of building regulations to the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, also referred to as the California Building Standards Code. This part incorporates by adoption of the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code of the International Code Council (ICC) with necessary California amendments.

1.1.2 Purpose. The purpose of this code is to establish minimum requirements to reduce the likelihood of life and property loss due to a wildfire through the use of performance and prescriptive requirements for construction and development in all Fire Hazard Severity Zones in State Responsibility Areas (SRA), and Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) designated as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and increase the ability of buildings located in any Fire Hazard Severity Zone within State Responsibility Areas (SRA), or Wildland-Urban Inter- face (WUI) Areas, to resist the intrusion of flames or burning embers projected by a vegetation fire and contributes to a systematic reduction in conflagration losses and reduce the likelihood of life and property loss due to a wildfire.

1.1.3 Scope. The provisions of this code shall apply to the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equip- ment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal, and demolition of every building or structure or any appurtenances connected or attached to such building structures throughout the State of California.

This code establishes regulations affecting or relating to buildings, structures, processes, premises, and a reasonable degree of life and property safeguards regarding: 1. The hazard of fire and explosion arising from the storage, handling, or use of structures, materials, or devices. 2. Conditions hazardous to life, property, or public welfare in the use or occupancy of buildings, structures, or premises. 3. Fire hazards in the buildings, structures, orp on-premises from use of, occupancy of, or operation. 4. Matters related to the construction, extension, repair, alteration, or removal of fire suppression or alarm systems. 5. Conditions affecting the safety of firefighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.

1.1.4 Appendices. Provisions contained in the appendices of this code shall not apply unless specifically adopted by a state agency or adopted by a local enforcing agency in compliance with Health and Safety Code, Section 18901 et. seq. for Building Standards Law, Health and Safety Code, Section 17950 for State Housing Law and Health and Safety Code, Section 13869.7 for Fire Protection Districts. See Section 1.1.8 of this code.

in the appendices of this code shall not apply unless specifically adopted by a state agency or_ adopted by a local enforcing agency in compliance with Health and Safety Code, Section 18901 et. seq. for Building Standards Law, Health and Safety Code, Section 17950 for State Housing Law and Health and Safety Code, Section 13869.7 for Fire Protection Districts. See Section 1.1.8 of this code.

1.1.5 Referenced codes. The codes, standards, and publications adopted and set forth in this code, including other codes, standards, and publications referred to herein are, by title and date of publication, hereby adopted as standard reference documents of this code. When this code does not specifically cover any subject related to building design and construction, recognized architectural or engineer- ing practices shall be employed. The National Fire Codes, standards, and the Fire Protection Handbook of the National Fire Protection Association are permitted to be used as authoritative guides in determining recognized fire prevention engineering practices.

1.1.6 Nonbuilding standards, orders, and regulations. Requirements contained in the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, or in any other referenced standard, code, or document, which are not building standards as defined in Health and Safety Code, Section 18909 shall not be construed as a building standard. The nonbuilding standards contained herein are applicable in the wildland inter- face areas and can be cited as a section of this code, or where the section is identified on the tagline by the source document, the provision can be cited under the source document.

1.1.7 Order of precedence and use.

1.1.7.1 Differences. In the event of any differences between these building standards and the standard reference documents, the text of these building standards shall govern.

1.1.7.2 Specific provisions. Where a specific provision varies from a general provision, the specific provision shall apply.

1.1.7.3 Conflicts. When the requirements of this code conflict with the requirements of any other part of the California Building Stan- dards Code, Title 24, the most restrictive requirements shall prevail.

1.1.7.3.1 CBC and CRC. Detached one- and two-family dwellings, efficiency dwelling units, lodging houses, live/work units, and townhouses not more than three stories above grade plane with a separate means of egress, and their accessory structures, may be designed and constructed in accordance with the California Building Code or the California Residential Code, but not both, unless the proposed structure(s) or element(s) exceed the design limitations established in the California Residential Code, and the code user is specially directed by the California Residential Code to use the California Building Code.

1.1.8 City, county, or city and county amendments, additions or deletions. The provisions of this code do not limit the authority of city, county, or city and county governments to establish more restrictive and reasonably necessary differences to the provisions

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

ADMINISTRATION

contained in this code pursuant to complying with Section 1.1.8.1. The effective date of amendments, additions, or deletions to this code of a city, county, or city and county filed pursuant to Section 1.1.8.1 shall be the date filed. However, in no case shall the amendments, additions, or deletions to this code be effective any sooner than the effective date of this code.

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.

ctive 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.

Note: Matrix Adoption Tables at the front of each chapter may aid the code user in determining which chapter or sections within a chapter are applicable to buildings under the authority of a specific state agency, but they are not to be considered regulatory.

1.1.12 Validity. If any chapter, section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this code is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, contrary to statute, exceeding the authority of the state as stipulated by statutes, or otherwise inoperative, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this code.