HB 1254 — Implementing the International Wildland Urban Interface Code.

H-1447.1H-0444.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1254 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By House Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Duerr, Berg, Ramel, Macri, Pollet, Davis, and Hunt)Hunt READPrefiled FIRST01/10/25. TIME 02/18/25.

Read first time 01/13/25.

Referred to Committee on Local Government.

amending RCW 19.27.56019.27.560; and 43.30.580;

1 SHBHB 1254 Protection Association specifically referenced in the International Fire Code:

(d) ((Only those portions of the)) The International Wildland Urban Interface Code, published by the International Code Council Inc.,Inc.((, as specifically referenced in RCW 19.27.560(1)((,19.27.560(1), or the model International Wildland Urban Interface Code specifically referenced in RCW 19.27.560(2)));

2 SHBHB 1254 and omissions, or eliminate obsolete, conflicting, redundant, or unnecessary regulations as provided in RCW 19.27.032 through 19.27.034.

(1) ((In addition to the provisions of RCW 19.27.031, the state building code shall, upon)) Upon the completion of a statewide wildfire hazard map and a base-level wildfire risk map for each county of the state, per RCW 43.30.580, ((consist of chapter 1 and the followingfollowing)) the technical provisions of))of the state building code council shall, by November 1, 2029, adopt by rule the International Wildland Urban Interface Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc., ((which are hereby adopted by reference:

(B) The roof covering on buildings or structures in existence prior to the adoption of the wildland urban interface code under this section that are replaced or have fifty percent or more replaced in a twelve month period shall be replaced with a roof covering required p.

3 SHBHB 1254 twelve month period shall be replaced with a roof covering required for new construction based on the type of ignition-resistant construction specified in accordance with the International Wildland Urban Interface Code.

Driveways in excess of three hundred feet in length shall be provided p.

4 SHBHB 1254 Driveways in excess of three hundred feet in length shall be provided with turnarounds and driveways in excess of five hundred feet in length and less than twenty feet in width shall be provided with turnouts and turnarounds.

The county, city, or town will define the requirements for a turnout or turnaround as required in this subsection)) or portions thereof adopted pursuant to RCW 19.27.031, shall be implemented.

The(2) stateAll buildingcounties, codecities, council shall collaborate with other relevant state agencies and entities,towns includingmay adopt the departmentInternational ofWildland naturalUrban resourcesInterface andCode, regionalpublished fireby defensethe boardsInternational pursuantCode toCouncil, RCWInc., 43.43.962,in andwhole localor governments,any including,portion butthereof. not limited to, building officials and urban forestry specialists to consider up-to-date wildfire science and create regionally appropriate building codes.

Prior(3) toIn finaladopting approvaland ofmaintaining the statewidecode mapsenumerated developedin pursuantsubsection to(1) RCWof 43.30.580,this thesection, departmentany ofamendment naturalto resourcesthe shallcode coordinateas withadopted theunder regionalsubsection fire(1) defenseof boardsthis establishedsection may not result in RCWan 43.43.963International forWildland aUrban reviewInterface ofCode that is more than the proposedminimum statewideperformance maps.standards and requirements contained in subsection (1) of this section.

(2) ((All)) Until 90 days after the completion of an optional code pursuant to subsection (4) ofAll this section, all counties, cities, and towns may adoptcomplete thetheir Internationalown Wildlandwildfire Urbanhazard Interfaceand Code,base-level publishedwildfire byrisk themap Internationalfor Codeuse Council,in Inc.,applying the code enumerated in wholesubsections or(1) anyand portion(2) thereof.of this section.

(3) ((In adopting and maintaining the code enumerated in subsection (1) of this section, any amendment to the code as adopted under subsection (1) of this section may not result in an International Wildland Urban Interface Code that is more than the minimum performance standards and requirements contained in subsection (1) of this section.

(4))) All counties, cities, and towns may complete their own wildfire hazard and base-level wildfire risk map for use in applying the code enumerated in subsections (1) and (2) of this section.

p.(5) All counties, cities, and towns issuing commercial and residential building permits for parcels in areas identified as high hazard and very high hazard on the map required by subsection (1) of this section or adopted according to subsection (4) of this section shall apply the code enumerated in subsections (1) or (2) of this section.

5 SHB 1254 (((5))) (4) The state building code council may adopt by rule technical provisions of the International Wildland Urban Interface Code as an optional code to be used by cities and counties that have completed wildfire hazard maps and base-level wildfire risk maps pursuant to subsection (3) of this section for implementation.

Upon the completion of a statewide wildfire hazard map and a base-level wildfire risk map for each county as required in RCW 43.30.580, the adoption of an optional code as provided in this subsection (4) shall no longer apply.

(5) All counties, cities, and towns issuing commercial and residential building permits for parcels in areas identified as high hazard and very high hazard on the map required by subsection (1) of this section or adopted according to subsection (((4))) (3) of this section shall apply the code enumerated in subsections (1) or (2) of this section.

(6) When developing defensible space requirements under the International Wildland Urban Interface Code, the state building code council must coordinate with the department of ecology, the department of fish and wildlife, the department of commerce, and local governments to ensure that such defensible space requirements align with the requirements of the growth management act, shoreline master programs, and other applicable environmental regulations adopted by the state.

(7) All counties and cities, with the approval of the local fire marshal, may adopt local amendments to the International Wildland Urban Interface Code as needed to meet local conditions or constraints.

Amendments affecting single-family or multifamily residential buildings shall not be effective unless the amendment is approved by the building code council pursuant to RCW 19.27.074(1)(b).

Sec.

3.

RCW 43.30.580 and 2024 c 133 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall, to the extent practical within existing resources, establish a program of technical assistance to counties, cities, and towns for the development of findings of fact and maps establishing the wildland urban interface areas of jurisdictions in accordance with the requirements of the International Wildland Urban Interface Code as adopted by reference in RCW 19.27.560.

p.

6 SHB 1254 (2) The department shall develop and administer a grant program, subject to funding provided for this purpose, to provide direct financial assistance to counties, cities, and towns for the development of findings of fact and maps establishing wildland urban interface areas.

Applications for grant funds must be submitted by counties, cities, and towns in accordance with regulations adopted by the department.

The department is authorized to make and administer grants on the basis of applications, within appropriations authorized by the legislature, to any county, city, or town for the purpose of developing findings of fact and maps establishing wildland urban interface areas.

(3) The department shall establish and maintain a statewide wildfire hazard map and a base-level wildfire risk map for each county of the state based upon criteria established in coordination with the state fire marshal office.

Prior to final approval of the statewide wildfire hazard map and base-level wildfire risk map, the department of natural resources shall coordinate with the regional fire defense boards established in RCW 43.43.963 to review and receive input on the proposed statewide maps.

The hazard map shall be made available on the department's website and shall designate areas as low, moderate, high, and very high wildfire hazard.

The risk map shall be made available on the department's website and designate vulnerable resources or assets based on their exposure and susceptibility to a wildfire hazard.

The department shall establish a method by which local governments may update the wildfire hazard map and wildfire risk map based on local assessments and approved by the jurisdiction's fire marshal.

The department shall make publicly available the criteria and analysis utilized in assessing the wildfire hazard and risk.

75 SHBHB 1254