This week, CalFire announced the adoption of the 2025 edition of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (CWUI). It will take effect on Jan 1, 2026.
There are no changes to requirements, but the different wildfire resiliency related sections were all regrouped into a single location within Part 7 of the California Building Code.
“The various wildfire-related sections include existing Chapter 7A of the Building Code, Chapter 49 of the Fire Code (vegetation management around homes), and Chapter 337 of the Residential Code. The structure of the CWUI Code is modeled using the International Code Council’s International Wildland-Urban Interface Code. While the requirements remain the same, the reorganization and consolidation into one code is a major milestone for California making it a simpler process for builders and local officials across the state.”
More info on Facebook
We could not find online either the old edition or the new edition of the CA Wildland Urban Interface Code. Outside of email updates sent to subscribers of CalFire mailing lists, the only mention of the new edition is on CalFire’s Facebook.
Background
The International Code Council (ICC) is a non-governmental organization that develops and publishes model building codes and standards. Many of these codes or standards, in turn, are adopted in full of part by countries and states. The ICC publishes and maintains an International Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
The state of California maintains its own version of this Code, as the CA Wildland Urban Interface Code. But it does not, in general, enforce its regulations. Local jurisdictions are responsible for enacting ordnances and enforcing them.
In turn, the local building code ordinances and regulations that implement the CA Wildland Urban Interface Code go through a review and adoption process. All new construction in Wildland Urban Interfaces is subject to these regulations.
Berkeley considers at least its Fire Zones 2 and 3 to be part of the Wildland Urban Interface Zone: “The Berkeley Fire Department conducts defensible space inspections to identify potential hazards in the Berkeley Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Zones 2 & 3” (from Inspection — Fire Safe Berkeley)
