To: Board of Supervisors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: Hearing to Consider Adopting Ordinance No. 2025-15
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Acting in its capacity as the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and as the Board of Directors of the Crockett-Carquinez Fire Protection District and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District:
1. OPEN the public hearing on Ordinance No. 2025-15, adopting the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, as updated with local amendments, as the Wildland-Urban Interface code within Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, and the Crockett-Carquinez Fire Protection District; RECEIVE testimony; and CLOSE the public hearing.
2. ADOPT Ordinance No. 2025-15, adopting the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, with local amendments, as the Wildland-Urban Interface Code within Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, and the Crockett-Carquinez Fire Protection District.
3. ADOPT the attached findings in support of the amendments to the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
4. DIRECT the Fire Districts, pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 17958.7, to send a certified copy of Ordinance No. 2025-15, the attached findings, and this Board Order to the California Department of Housing and Community Development and to the California Building Standards Commission.
5. AUTHORIZE the publication of the ordinance summary prepared by County Counsel in accordance with Government Code section 25124.
6. DIRECT the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to post at its office, and each Fire District to post at its office, a certified copy of the full text of Ordinance No. 2025-15, as adopted, with the names of the Supervisors/Directors voting for and against the ordinance, in accordance with Government Code section 25124.
7. FIND that adoption of the ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
8. DIRECT staff to file a Notice of Exemption with the County Clerk.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact is neutral. The adoption of this ordinance will provide the administrative authority to enforce the provisions of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code as amended.
BACKGROUND:
The California Building Standards Commission has adopted and published the 2025 Building Standards Code, which includes the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code prepared and adopted by the State Fire Marshal. The statewide code becomes effective January 1, 2026.
Although the code applies statewide, Health and Safety Code sections 13869.7, 17958.5, and 18941.5 authorize a local jurisdiction to modify or change the statewide code and establish more restrictive standards if the jurisdiction finds that the modifications and changes are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. Ordinance No. 2025-15 adopts the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code and amends it to address local conditions.
The attached ordinance amends the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code by adoption of the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code <https://codes.iccsafe.org/lookup/IWUIC2024P1/4311> of the International Code Council (ICC) with necessary California amendments including Chapters 1 - 7 and Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C, Appendix F, Appendix G, and Appendix H as amended by the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in this ordinance.
Notice of the public hearing was published in accordance with Government Code section 6066. A summary of the ordinance was prepared and published in accordance with Government Code section 25124(b).
Attachments: Ordinance No. 2025-15 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code
Findings in support of Ordinance No. 2025-15
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Without the adoption of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (CWUI) with local amendments, would increase the risk of wildfire spread into neighborhoods, heighten the potential for loss of life and property, and slow community recovery following major fire events. It could also result in higher property damage and insurance costs, reduced eligibility for state and federal wildfire mitigation funding, potential legal exposure for not meeting state safety standards, and erosion of public confidence in the County’s commitment to fire and life safety.