Chapter 15.66
WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE
Sections:
15.66.030 Adoption of the 2025 CWUIC with amendments.
15.66.040 Adoption of certain 2025 CWUIC appendices.
15.66.050 Amendment of 2025 CWUIC Appendix A.
15.66.070 Amendment to 2025 CWUIC Chapter 2, Section 202 (Definitions).
15.66.080 Amendment to 2025 CWUIC Chapter 3, Sections 301 and 302 (Wildland-Urban Interface Areas).
15.66.090 Amendment to 2025 CWUIC Section 501 (Special Building Construction Regulations).
15.66.100 Amendment to 2025 CWUIC Sections 503, 504 (Special Building Construction Regulations).
15.66.110 Amendment to 2025 CWUIC Section 602 (Fire Protection Plans).
15.66.010 Title.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the city of Fremont’s “Wildland-Urban Interface code” or “WUI code.” The city’s WUI code consists of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, as codified in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations and as amended by this chapter. (Ord. 12-2025 § 2, 9-16-25.)
15.66.020 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish minimum fire and fuel regulations for properties located within the wildland-urban interface areas designated in Chapter 15.65 in order to protect life and property. The regulations are intended to mitigate the risk to life and structures from intrusion of fire from wildland fire exposures and fire exposures from adjacent structures, to mitigate structure fires from spreading to wildland fuels, and to control the spread of fires. It is the intent of this chapter that the regulations be implemented in phases commensurate with the relative level of hazard present.
The unrestricted use of property in designated fire areas may pose a threat to life and property from fire and resulting erosion. Safeguards to prevent the occurrence of fires and to provide adequate fire protection facilities to control the spread of fire in wildland-urban interface areas shall be in accordance with this code.
This code establishes specific regulations to mitigate fire hazards within the wildland-urban interface areas of the city and supplements the city’s building and fire codes. (Ord. 12-2025 § 2, 9-16-25.)
15.66.030 Adoption of the 2025 CWUIC with amendments.
The 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (“CWUIC”) as published by the California Building Standards Commission is adopted by reference as the Wildland-Urban Interface Code of the city of Fremont as if fully set forth herein and as amended by this chapter. A copy of the 2025 CWUIC is on file in the office of the city clerk. (Ord. 12-2025 § 2, 9-16-25.)
15.66.040 Adoption of certain 2025 CWUIC appendices.
The following appendices of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code are adopted, as amended by this chapter, and made a part of the city’s wildland-urban interface code:
|
Appendix |
Title |
|---|---|
|
Appendix A |
General Requirements |
|
Appendix B |
Vegetation Management Plan |
|
Appendix F |
Characteristics of Fire-Smart Vegetation |
|
Appendix G |
Voluntary Home Hardening Recommendations |
(Ord. 12-2025 § 2, 9-16-25.)
15.66.050 Amendment of 2025 CWUIC Appendix A.
Appendix A of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is amended as follows:
A104.7 – A104.8.1 deleted
(Ord. 12-2025 § 2, 9-16-25.)
15.66.060 Adoption of 2025 CWUIC Chapter 1, Division II (Scope and Administration) and amendments to Sections 101, 103 and 109.
Chapter 1, Division II of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is adopted in its entirety, with local amendments made only to Sections 101, 103 and 109. References to model codes in the adopted sections shall mean the corresponding California Wildland-Urban Interface Codes as adopted by the city of Fremont.
101.2 Scope: This chapter applies to building materials, systems and/or assemblies used in the exterior design and construction of new and existing buildings or structures erected, constructed, altered, or moved within a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area as defined in Chapter 2, Section 202 of the 2025 CWUIC.
101.3 {CWUIC text not modified}
101.3.1 Application. New or existing buildings or structures erected, constructed, altered, or moved in any Fire Hazard Severity Zone or any Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area designated by the enforcing agency constructed after the application date shall comply with the provisions of this chapter.
Exceptions:
1. – 3. {CWUIC text not modified}
4. deleted.
101.3.1.1 – 106.4 {CWUIC text not modified}
103.2 Appointment. The Fire Marshal is the fire code official or the person in charge of the fire prevention bureau as appointed by the Fire Chief. The chief of the fire department shall recommend to the city manager the employment of technical consultants as appropriate.
103.3 Deputies. In accordance with the prescribed procedures of this jurisdiction and with the concurrence of the appointing authority, the fire code official shall have the authority to appoint a deputy fire code official, other related technical officers, inspectors and other employees. Such employees shall have the powers delegated by the fire code official.
109.3.7 Violation Penalties. Any person who violates a provision of this code or fails to comply with any of the requirements thereof, or who erects, installs, alters, repairs, or does any work in violations of the approved construction documents or directive of the fire code official, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this code, is guilty of an offense as set forth in Fremont Municipal Code Section 1.15.010 et seq. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish, equip, use, occupy or maintain any building or structure or cause or permit the same to be done in violation of this chapter.
(Ord. 12-2025 § 2, 9-16-25.)
15.66.070 Amendment to 2025 CWUIC Chapter 2, Section 202 (Definitions).
Section 202 of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is amended by modifying the following definitions. The remaining definitions in Section 202 are not changed.
LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY AREA (LRA) means those areas designated by the city of Fremont as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Fremont Municipal Code Chapter 15.65.
WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE is a geographical area identified by the state as a “Fire Hazard Severity Zone” in accordance with Public Resources Code Sections 4201 through 4204 and Government Code Sections 51175 through 51189, and includes those areas designated by the city of Fremont as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Fremont Municipal Code, Chapter 15.65.
(Ord. 12-2025 § 2, 9-16-25.)
15.66.080 Amendment to 2025 CWUIC Chapter 3, Sections 301 and 302 (Wildland-Urban Interface Areas).
Section 301 of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is amended by modifying the following:
301.2 Purpose: The purpose of this Chapter is intended to comply with the requirements of Government Code Sections 51175 – 51189, and subdivision (a) of Section 4291 of the Public Resources Code, which requires the City to adopt, by ordinance, the fire hazard severity zones designated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE), which consist of Very High, High, and Moderate designations, subject to the City’s authority to designate additional areas as Very High Fire Hazard Zones not otherwise designated by CALFIRE. By adopting this Chapter, the City exercises its authority to designate additional areas as Very High Fire Hazard Zones pursuant to Section 51179 of the Government Code.
In addition to the requirement of aforementioned Government and Public Resources Codes, the City adopts by reference the most current versions of Fremont Fire Department’s “Defensible Space Inspection Guide” and “Minimum Abatement Standards,” attached to this Ordinance as Exhibits A and B respectively and are hereby adopted as part of this ordinance.
These guidelines and standards are incorporated herein as a reference document and shall serve as a minimum standard for vegetation management and defensible space maintenance in the City’s designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone Areas.
This classification is necessary to enable city officials to identify and implement wildfire prevention measures that slow the spread, reduce the intensity of uncontrolled fires, and protect resources, lives, and properties.
Section 302 of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is amended as follows:
Section 302.1 Mapping. The designation, locations and boundaries of the Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the City, as recommended by the State Fire Marshal and as amended by the City, are set forth on the map labeled “Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the City of Fremont,” which is approved by the City Council (ordinance 10-2025) and attached to the Ordinance as Exhibit C and incorporated herein.
An official copy of the Fire Hazard Severity Zones map must be kept on file with the City Clerk’s Office, posted online on the Fire Department’s website, and shall be made available to the public at the administrative offices of the Fire Department during regular business hours.
(Ord. 12-2025 § 2, 9-16-25.)
15.66.090 Amendment to 2025 CWUIC Section 501 (Special Building Construction Regulations).
Section 501 of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is amended as follows:
501.1 Scope: This chapter applies to building materials, systems and/or assemblies used in the exterior design and construction of new and existing buildings or structures erected, constructed, altered, or moved within a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area as defined in Section 202.
501.2 {CWUIC text not modified}
(Ord. 12-2025 § 2, 9-16-25.)
15.66.100 Amendment to 2025 CWUIC Sections 503, 504 (Special Building Construction Regulations).
Section 503 of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is amended as follows:
503.1.1 Establishment of limits. The establishment of limits for the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Area’s required construction methods shall be designated under the California Public Resources Code for the State Responsibility areas and by the areas designated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones by the city of Fremont under Government Code Section 51179 as set forth in Fremont Municipal Code, Chapter 15.65 for areas outside the State Responsibility areas and within the city of Fremont.
503.2- 503.3.4 {CWUIC text not modified}
Section 504 of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is amended as follows:
504.2 – 504.2.1 {CWUIC text not modified}
504.2.1.1 Wildland Urban-Interface Fire Area. The roof covering of any new structure or the re-roofing of any existing building within Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area, regardless of the type of construction or occupancy classification, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering that is at least Class A. All alteration, repair, replacement or reroofing shall conform to the applicable provisions of the 2025 California Building Code Section 1604 “General Design Requirements” and any other applicable engineering requirements, including Chapter 15, “Roof Assemblies and Rooftop Structures” of this code.
504.2.2 {CWUIC text not modified}
504.5 – 504.5.2.1 {CWUIC text not modified}
504.5.2.2 Exterior wall covering. All exterior faces of the exterior walls shall be of an assembly qualified for exterior face of recognized 1-hour fire resistive assemblies. All exterior wall coverings shall meet a Class I flame spread requirement and be installed over materials approved for 1-hour fire-resistive construction.
Exception: Class I flame spread requirement may be waived for additions not to exceed 50%, cumulatively over the life of the structure, of the existing structure, including garage areas with 1-hour fire resistive exterior wall assembly.
504.6 – 504.7.1 {CWUIC text not modified}
504.7.1.2 Utilities. Utilities, pipes, furnaces, water heaters or other mechanical devices located in an exposed under-floor area of a building or structure shall be enclosed with material as required for exterior, 1-hour, fire-resistive construction. Adequate covered access opening for servicing such utilities shall be provided as required by appropriate codes.
504.7.1.3 Historical buildings. Repairs, alterations, and additions necessary for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation or continued use of a building or structure may be made without conformance to all the requirements of this code when authorized by the building official, provided:
1. The building or structure conforms to Part 8, Title 24, of the California Code of Regulations; and
2. A fire protection plan is implemented so that the building or structure will be no more of a fire hazard than any new building. The plan must be prepared and signed by a registered Fire Protection Engineer. The plan must be approved by the building official and fire chief prior to the commencement of any work.
(Ord. 12-2025 § 2, 9-16-25.)
15.66.110 Amendment to 2025 CWUIC Section 602 (Fire Protection Plans).
Section 602 of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code is amended as follows:
602.1 {CFC text not modified}
602.2 Contents. The fire protection plan shall be based on a project-specific wildfire hazard assessment that includes considerations of location, topography, aspect, and climate and fire history. The plan shall identify conformance with all applicable state wildfire protection regulations, statutes and Fremont Municipal Code, Chapter 15.35.220, whichever are more restrictive.
The plan shall address fire department access, egress, road and address signage, fire protection systems and equipment, water supply in addition to fuel reduction in accordance with Public Resources Code (PRC) 4290; the defensible space requirements in accordance with PRC 4291 or Government Code 51182; and the applicable building codes and standards for wildfire safety. The plan shall identify mitigation measures to address the project’s specific wildfire risk and shall include the information required in Section 602.3
602.3.1 – 602.3.2 {CFC text not modified}
602.4 Cost. The cost of fire protection plan preparation and review shall be the responsibility of the applicant.
(Ord. 12-2025 § 2, 9-16-25.)