On Tuesday, Nov. 18, the Council approved the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Code and a map where it would apply. WUI fire code is a set of rules aimed at reducing the risk of wildfire.
Read the Wildland Urban Interface Code.
The Wildland Urban Interface Fire Code
Legislative Background
Earlier this year, the State Legislature passed a law requiring cities to adopt the same Wildland Urban Interface* (WUI) code as the state before Jan. 1, 2026. If the City did not, it would have risked losing eligibility to receive reimbursement for wildfire fighting costs.
WUI codes are a set of rules aimed at reducing the risk of wildfire, protecting lives and property, and supporting emergency response. The code will add extra fire safety rules for properties near undeveloped natural areas.
Code Details
These additional safety rules cover:
What building and roofing materials can be used,
How buildings should be built,
What kinds of landscaping is allowed, and
How much space must be between buildings and wildland.
*Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) is the area where neighborhoods, homes, or buildings are near or meet undeveloped wildland like forests, grasslands or other wild vegetation.
Read the Proposal.
Read the State Wildland Urban Interface Code.
View House Bill 48.
Who is affected?
Affected Areas
The WUI code will apply to over 1,900 acres in the city. Only properties shown on the City’s Wildland Urban Interface map will be subject to the WUI code. Check if your property is on the map below.
Neighborhood Specific Maps
Avenues
Capitol Hill
East Bench – Emigration & Parleys Canyons
East Bench – Emigration & Red Butte Creeks (Riparian Corridors)
East Bench – University of Utah
Request a Free Assessment
Property Assessments
The City’s Fire Department provides a free wildfire property assessment. These assessments provide tips for defending properties against wildfire and help to prepare property owners for potential formal inspections.
Request an Assessment
Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands Town Hall
State Town Hall
The State’s Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands recently held a town hall where they provided a detailed overview of the impacts of HB 48 on residents and all levels of government. Watch the Town Hall. The Division will be holding additional public meetings in the future. Visit their meetings page to learn how you can participate.
Check out the Division HB 48 FAQ Page
Watch the Section on Fees
View the Detailed Overview on Insurance
Meeting Recaps
Nov. 18 Public Hearing & Council Vote
Meeting Recaps
During the hearing, a resident expressed support for the code as an important step but expressed concerns about the City’s land management and potential negative impacts on insurance and property values. Following the hearing, the Council voted to approve the WUI code and the map.
Read the Nov. 18 Staff Report
View the Ordinance
Watch the Public Hearing and Vote
Oct. 21 Council Briefing
The Council received a briefing on the state-mandated proposal. The Fire Department provided an overview of the proposal, highlighted how it differs from current city rules, and answered Council Members’ questions. They also discussed defensible space, roofing and building materials, community outreach, and whether the rules would apply to the Rocky Mountain development.
Read the staff report or watch the briefing for more information.
Resources
Check out the Fire Department’s Wildland Resources
Request a Free Assessment
View Utah DNR’s HB 48 FAQ Page
Read the Proposal
View the Proposed Wildland Interface Map
Read the Council Staff Report
Visit the Planning Division’s project page
Tags: Fire Code, Wildland, Wildland Urban Interface Fire Code
