Ross Council introduces ordinances to adopt updated fire, wildland-urban interface and building codes

The Ross Town Council on Oct. 9 voted 4‑0 to introduce three ordinances that update local code to the state’s 2025 fire and building standards and to schedule public hearings and final adoption on Nov. 13, 2025.

The measures would: adopt the 2025 edition of the California Fire Code and the 2024 International Fire Code with local amendments; adopt the 2025 California Wildland‑Urban Interface Code (WUI) and related local amendments; and adopt the 2025 California building, residential, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, green building, energy and related codes with previously adopted local amendments moved forward.

Robert Bastian of the Ross Valley Fire Department, one of the presenters, said the adoption is needed to “ensure the town stays compliant with state fire and building standards.” He and Chief Mahoney summarized three substantive local changes in the fire code adoption: raising vertical clearance over fire lanes, removing two previously allowed exceptions to indoor radio‑coverage requirements, and carrying forward prior local amendments that account for Ross’s local climate and topography.

Presenters said the WUI code consolidates wildfire‑risk construction and vegetation requirements into a single code chapter and adds a few local clarifications: a requirement that both the fire code official and the building official sign off on final approvals for certificates of completion, requiring vegetation management plans (VMPs) as part of construction documents in WUI areas, raising design load assumptions for fire apparatus access, and requiring emergency water supply locations and fire‑system power sources to appear on protection plans.

Greg McFann, the town’s contract building official through CSG, told the council that local amendments previously adopted in 2022 are being carried forward and that there are no new local amendments beyond those introduced with the WUI adoption.

Council members asked for plain‑language summaries for residents and builders about any practical impacts — for example, the change to vertical clearance raised from 13 feet 6 inches to 15 feet — and staff said they would include those explanations when the ordinances return for second reading and adoption.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 732 (adopt 2025 California Fire Code / 2024 International Fire Code with local amendments): introduced and scheduled for public hearing and second reading on Nov. 13, 2025. Roll call: Eric McMillan (Mayor) — Yes; Council member Salter — Aye; Council member Dowling — Yes; Mayor Pro Tem Robbins — Yes. Motion passed 4‑0.

- Ordinance 733 (adopt 2025 California Wildland‑Urban Interface Code / 2024 International WUI Code with local amendments): introduced and scheduled for public hearing and second reading on Nov. 13, 2025. Roll call: Eric McMillan — Yes; Council member Salter — Yes; Council member Dowling — Yes; Mayor Pro Tem Robbins — Yes. Motion passed 4‑0.

- Ordinance 734 (adopt 2025 California building and related codes with local amendments): introduced and scheduled for public hearing and second reading on Nov. 13, 2025. Roll call: Eric McMillan — Yes; Council member Salter — Aye; Council member Dowling — Aye; Mayor Pro Tem Robbins — Aye. Motion passed 4‑0.

The council did not adopt any of the ordinances on final reading at the Oct. 9 meeting; each was introduced and a public hearing was scheduled for Nov. 13.

Ending

Staff said they will return with the ordinances for the Nov. 13 public hearings and that planning and fire staff will prepare concise summaries for residents and applicants to explain specific construction or vegetation management changes that will affect projects or permits.