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SB 6120

Concerning the Wildland Urban Interface Code.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by John Braun and 2 co-sponsors

DNR to produce statewide wildfire hazard and risk maps, standardize WUI Code use, and limit SBCC adoption to defined WUI provisions for safer, consistent building.

Effective date 3/15/2024.
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Bill Summary · SB 6120

SB 6120 — Concerning the Wildland Urban Interface Code

Chapter 133, 2024 Laws — Effective March 15, 2024 (emergency clause)

Purpose / Intent

SB 6120 updates how Washington identifies areas at greatest risk from wildland fire and how the International Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code is applied statewide. The bill directs the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to produce standardized wildfire hazard and base‑level wildfire risk maps for each county and clarifies which portions of the International WUI Code the State Building Code Council (SBCC) may incorporate into the State Building Code.

Key provisions

  • DNR mapping duties

    • DNR must establish and maintain a statewide wildfire hazard map and a base‑level wildfire risk map for every county, in coordination with the State Fire Marshal.
    • The hazard map must designate areas as low, moderate, high, and very high wildfire hazard and be posted on DNR’s website.
    • The risk map must identify vulnerable resources/assets based on exposure and susceptibility and also be posted online.
    • DNR must develop a method allowing local governments to update the statewide maps using local assessments; local updates must be approved by the jurisdiction’s fire marshal.
    • The criteria and analysis underlying hazard and risk assessments must be publicly available.

  • Local maps and transition rules

    • Counties, cities, and towns may produce and use their own wildfire hazard and base‑level risk maps for applying the WUI Code until DNR completes the statewide maps.
    • Six months after statewide maps are completed, local maps must use the same or substantially similar criteria as the statewide map.
    • Jurisdictions issuing commercial or residential permits in areas identified as high or very high risk (on either the statewide or approved local map) must apply the WUI Code provisions as adopted by SBCC.

  • State Building Code Council authority

    • Upon completion of county maps, SBCC’s authority to adopt the International WUI Code is limited to the specific portions enumerated in statute (i.e., selected technical provisions referenced in amended RCW 19.27.560, consistent with the 2018 International WUI Code language in the bill).

Who is affected

  • Department of Natural Resources and State Fire Marshal (mapping and coordination duties)
  • State Building Code Council (code adoption/limits)
  • Counties, cities and towns (mapping, permitting, and application of WUI provisions)
  • Local fire marshals and first responders (map approvals and input)
  • Builders, developers, homeowners and insurers in identified WUI areas (possible construction requirements in high/very high risk zones)

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced Jan 10, 2024. Passed House Feb 29, 2024; Senate concurrence Mar 5, 2024. Delivered to Governor Mar 8; signed Mar 15, 2024. Emergency clause — effective immediately on March 15, 2024.
  • The bill amends RCW 19.27.031, 19.27.074, and 19.27.560 (and related statutory cross‑references) to reflect mapping and code adoption changes.

Potential impacts and context

  • Seeks greater consistency and transparency in wildfire hazard/risk mapping and in applying WUI building standards across jurisdictions.
  • May increase building requirements (e.g., ignition‑resistant construction provisions) for new construction or significant alterations in areas designated high/very high risk, affecting costs and permitting.
  • Preserves local mapping authority during transition but requires alignment with statewide criteria once statewide maps are complete.
  • The bill reflects stakeholder negotiation: proponents emphasize improved mapping and targeted code application; some state code officials opposed partial-code adoption restrictions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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