The Salt Lake City Fire Department, in conjunction with Building Services and the Planning Division, is proposing to adopt a “Wildfire Urban Interface” Building Code in order to comply with recent laws passed by the Utah Legislature. You can find out more information about this proposal, including links to downloadable documents, on the project open house webpage.
This text amendment would adopt what is called an “Wildland Urban Interface Fire Code” (WUI, for short) for Salt Lake City. A WUI code requires special regulations intended to:
- Reducing the risk created by wildfires;
- Protect life and property;
- Support emergency management best practices;
WUI codes are typically applied to properties that are next to or close to larger areas with natural vegetation.
Adoption of the Wildland Urban Interface Fire Code would subject certain properties to additional fire code requirements related to the construction of new buildings, additions to existing buildings, roofing materials, building materials, and creating defensible space by adding specific landscaping provisions intended to provide spaces between landscaping and buildings.
Earlier this year the Utah Legislature passed a law that requires cities to adopt the same wildland urban interface code that the State has adopted to be eligible for state level financial reimbursement for fighting wildfires. The state requires cities to adopt this fire code before January 1, 2026 to avoid being noncompliant.
The proposal will give precedence to the fire code in situations where the Wildland Urban Interface Fire Code and the Zoning Code conflict. The zoning code regulates building materials, fence materials, and landscaping that may not be allowed under the WUI code. This is likely to occur in the Foothill Residential Zoning Districts, in local historic districts where properties are adjacent to natural lands, and potentially in other zoning districts where building materials and landscaping are regulated. It could also impact setbacks of some types of buildings, including garages and sheds.
This is scheduled for a public hearing with the Planning Commission on September 24, 2025 in order for the City Council to make a decision before the January 1, 2026 deadline. Please direct any comments and questions to:
Tony Allred,
Fire Prevention Bureau Division Chief
anthony.allred@slc.gov