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Committee supports bill to adopt International Wildland‑Urban Interface Code with timing caveats
Summary
House Bill 1254 would adopt the International Wildland‑Urban Interface (WUI) Code by rule; the committee supports the bill in principle but asked for language that aligns council rulemaking with the 2027 code cycle and noted mapping and funding delays at DNR.
House Bill 1254 would change Washington’s RCW language to adopt the International Wildland‑Urban Interface Code (WUI) published by the International Code Council and to remove some prescriptive ignition‑resistance language currently in statute. Committee members broadly supported the concept but asked for timing clarifications tied to map completion and the code cycle.
"This bill is essentially saying we hear you Building Code Council, and we're gonna do something about it," Roger Haringa said, summarizing HB 1254 during the legislative update. The draft would adopt the ICC’s WUI code and remove some statutory ignition‑resistance prescription while keeping the requirement that WUI provisions go into effect upon completion of statewide wildfire hazard and base‑level risk maps.
Why it matters: The WUI code adoption would create statewide technical provisions for ignition‑resistant construction once the state maps are complete; counties and cities could adopt the model WUI code in the interim, but the bill as written restricts amendment by jurisdictions. Local officials in the meeting urged the council and sponsors to add a reasonable timeline because the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is behind on mapping due to funding and planning constraints.
Micah (surname not given) proposed language to tie the SBCC rule adoption to the 2027 code cycle, for example: "upon the completion of a statewide wildfire hazard map and a base level wildfire risk map for each county of the state... the State Building Code Council shall, by November 1, 2029, adopt by rule the technical provisions of the International Wildland Urban Interface Code," which would give the council time to align outreach and rule development with the code cycle rather than waiting only for mapping completion.
Local officials and council members described practical concerns: DNR’s map development is behind schedule, local jurisdictions want time for public outreach, and some wildfire‑related provisions (such as water supply and parking) are typically handled by local ordinance rather than building departments. The committee discussed allowing local jurisdictions to use their own maps in the interim and ensuring the SBCC’s rule process aligns with available funding and public engagement schedules.
Ending: Committee members expressed support for HB 1254 in concept and will prepare language suggestions (including a timeline tied to the 2027 code cycle) so the council can adopt WUI technical provisions in a predictable manner when maps and public outreach are complete.
