That a certain document, three (3) copies of which are on file in the office of the City Clerk of City of Santa Rosa, being marked and designated as the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 7, California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, 2025 Edition, including state-adopted appendices, as amended, A, B, C, D, F, G, H, I, as published by the International Code Council, be and is hereby adopted as the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code of the City of Santa Rosa, in the State of California regulating and governing the safeguarding of life and property of buildings and premises as herein provided; providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said California Wildland-Urban Interface Code on file in the office of the City of Santa Rosa are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this legislation, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes, if any, prescribed in Section 18-46.101.1 through 18-46.504.11.7 of this chapter, pursuant to Section 13869.7 of the California Health and Safety Code. This chapter shall be known as the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code Ordinance No. 2025-018 of the City of Santa Rosa.
For purposes of citation, the sections of the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, including the appendices identified, are renumbered by adding 18-46 before each section of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
(Ord. 2025-018, 11/18/2025)
California Wildland-Urban Interface Code Section 101.1 is amended to read as follows:
[A] 101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the "Wildland-Urban Interface Code of the City of Santa Rosa," may be cited as such, and will be referred to herein as "this Code."
(Ord. 2025-018, 11/18/2025)
California Wildland-Urban Interface Code Section 101.2 is amended to read as follows:
101.2 Scope. This chapter applies to building materials systems, and/or assemblies used in the exterior design construction, alteration, movement, repair, maintenance and use of any building, structure or premises located within any Fire Severity Zone or any Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area as defined in Section 202.
Buildings or conditions in existence at the time of the adoption of this code are allowed to have their use or occupancy continued, if such condition, use or occupancy was legal at the time of the adoption of this code, provided that such continued use does not constitute a distinct danger to life or property.
Buildings or structures moved into or within the jurisdiction shall comply with the provisions of this code for new buildings or structures.
(Ord. 2025-018, 11/18/2025)
California Wildland-Urban Interface Code Section 101.3.1 is amended to read as follows:
101.3.1 Application. Buildings located in any Fire Severity Zone or any Wildland-Urban Interface Zone designated by the enforcing agency constructed, altered, moved, repaired or maintained after the application date shall comply with the provisions of this chapter.
Exceptions to Section 101.3.1:
1. Buildings of an accessory character classified as a Group U occupancy and not exceeding 120 square feet in floor area, when located at least 30 feet from an applicable building.
2. Buildings of an accessory character classified as Group U occupancy not exceeding 1,000 square feet located at least 50 feet from applicable buildings.
3. Buildings classified as a Group U Agricultural Building, as defined in Section 202 of the California Building Code (see also Appendix C
Group U Agricultural Buildings), when located at least 50 feet from applicable buildings.
4. Group C, special buildings conforming to the limitations specified in California Building Code Section 450.4.1. For the purposes of this section and Section 504.11, applicable buildings include all buildings that have residential, commercial, educational, institutional, or similar occupancy type use.
(Ord. 2025-018, 11/18/2025)
California Wildland-Urban Interface Code section 103.1 is amended to read as follows:
[A] 103.1 Creation of agency. The Santa Rosa Fire Department Fire Prevention Division is hereby created and the official in charge thereof shall be known as the fire code official. The function of the agency shall be the implementation, administration, and enforcement of the provisions of this code.
(Ord. 2025-018, 11/18/2025)
California Wildland-Urban Interface Code Section 105.2 is added to read as follows:
[A] 105.2 Permits Required. In addition to the permits required by Section 105.2, the following construction permits shall be obtained from the Bureau of Fire Prevention for work as described in this section:
1. 
Vegetation management plan. A construction permit is required to implement a vegetation management plan.
2. 
Fire protection plan. A construction permit is required to implement a fire protection plan.
(Ord. 2025-018, 11/18/2025)
California Wildland-Urban Interface Code Section 106.4 is amended to read as follows:
[A] 106.4 Vegetation management compliance. Prior to building permit final approval, the property shall be in compliance with the vegetation management requirements prescribed in Section 603, including California Public Resources Code 4291, California Government Code Section 51182, or City of Santa Rosa Hazardous Vegetation and Fuels Management Ordinance. Acceptable methods of compliance inspection and documentation shall be determined by the enforcing agency and shall be permitted to include any of the following:
1. 
Local, state or federal fire authority or designee authorized to enforce vegetation management requirements.
2. 
Enforcing agency.
3. 
Third party inspection and certification authorized to enforce vegetation management requirements.
4. 
Property owner certification authorized by the enforcing agency.
(Ord. 2025-018, 11/18/2025)
California Wildland-Urban Interface Code Section 109.3.7 is added to read as follows:
[A] 109.3.7 Violation Penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair, or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the fire code official, or of a permit or certification used under provisions of this code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding six months or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.
(Ord. 2025-018, 11/18/2025)
California Wildland-Urban Interface Code Section 503.2.3 is amended to read as follows:
503.2.3 Prohibited Materials. Fire-retardant-treated wood shingles and shakes are prohibited in Wildland-Urban Interface Areas.
(Ord. 2025-018, 11/18/2025)
California Wildland-Urban Interface Code Section 504.11.7 is added to read as follows:
[A] 504.11.7 Fences. Fences connected to dwellings or accessory structures shall have the attachment and first five feet be constructed of noncombustible materials.
Exception to Section 504.11.7: Structures protected with a fire sprinkler system shall have the attachment and first three feet be constructed of noncombustible materials.
(Ord. 2025-018, 11/18/2025)