About Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

 

State of Utah Requirements

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) refers to areas where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with underdeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels. These areas are particularly susceptible to wildfires, posing risks to both homes and natural resources.

In accordance with Utah House Bill 48 adopted during the 2025 Legislative Session, Bountiful City has designated a “Local WUI Area” and is required to enforce building codes that mandate the use of fire-resistant materials and construction methods within the “Local WUI area.”

Separately, The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) has developed a statewide WUI for the state’s “High-Risk WUI” classification and associated wildfire mitigation fee. There are no properties in Bountiful City that have been determined by the State of Utah to be within a “High-Risk WUI.”

Local WUI Area

Bountiful City building, engineering, and legal staff, with review by South Davis Metro Fire Agency, developed the Local WUI Area map for Bountiful by considering proximity to heavily vegetated areas, topography, and fire history. The Local WUI Area zone map was adopted by the Bountiful City Council on December 9, 2025.

Local WUI Area Regulations

Building projects on properties that fall within the Local WUI Area are subject to the Current International Wildland-Urban Interface Code. Particular requirements depend upon the nature of the building project:

  • Existing homes: No immediate action required. You may want to fill out the FIRE HAZARD SEVERTIY FORM. This will let you know where your home is at risk and what could be done for better fire protection.
  • New construction, major remodels, and re-roofing projects: Must follow the currently adopted Building Code and International Wildland Urban Interface Code (IWUIC). The first step is to fill out a FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY FORM to establish which class of Ignition-Resistant Construction applies. There are three classes of Ignition-Resistant Construction per IWUIC Chapter 5 SPECIAL BUILDING CONSTRCUTION REGULATIONS Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3:

○        Moderate Hazard = Class 3
○        High Hazard = Class 2
○        Extreme Hazard = Class 1

ALL construction within the Local WUI Area, whether Class 1, 2, or 3, have Building Requirements that include Fire-resistant roofing material, spark arresters in chimneys, and requirements for storage of liquid petroleum gas, firewood, and combustible materials. Some amount of “Defensible Space” is also required which is an area around buildings that is managed to slow or stop wildfire by clearing vegetation, reducing combustible materials, and having fire-resistant landscaping. Each class of construction has a set of building requirements. Class 1 being the most fire-resistant. The code addresses things such as fire-resistant construction of exterior walls, doors, attic venting, etc. for each hazard class.

Here is a link to the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IWUIC2006P2

Specific instruction for each of the three classes of construction can be found in the following code sections:

Chapter 5 SPECIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS

○       504 Class 1 Ignition-Resistant Construction
○       505 Class 2 Ignition-Resistant Construction
○       506 Class 3 Ignition-Resistant Construction

Chapter 6 FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS:

○       602 Automatic sprinkler systems
○       603 Defensible space
○       604 Maintenance of defensible space
○       605 Spark arresters
○       606 Liquified petroleum gas installations
○       607 Storage of firewood and combustible materials

Statewide High-Risk WUI Area

A map showing the extents of the statewide “High-Risk WUI” is available online through the State of Utah, Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Risk Assessment Portal: https://wildfirerisk.utah.gov/

Here is a link to a short instruction video to help find and navigate the interactive wildfire risk map and see the “High-Risk WUI” areas on the map: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diMC34LrFrQ 

There are no Statewide “High-Risk WUI” areas in Bountiful City.

Additional Resources