Fairfax Town Council introduced three ordinances on Oct. 15 to update the towns fire, wildland-urban interface (WUI) and building codes to the 2025 state editions and the 2024/2025 International codes, carrying forward longstanding Ross Valley/Marin County amendments.

The councils actions included waiving first readings and setting public hearings for Nov. 5 for: (1) Ordinance 899 to adopt the 2025 California Fire Code with local amendments; (2) Ordinance 900 to adopt the 2025 California WUI Code with local amendments; and (3) Ordinance 901 to adopt the 2025 California Building Standards (Title 24) and the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, including previously adopted reach and flex-path provisions.

Why it matters: the California Building Standards Commission updates model codes every three years; local jurisdictions must adopt the newer codes (or allow the state code to take effect locally) by Jan. 1, 2026. Council and staff said adopting with local amendments preserves long-standing local modifications crafted for Fairfaxs topography, narrow roads and wildfire risk.

What council heard: Fire Prevention staff summarized the substantive local changes carried forward and the few new local amendments. Among the changes called out were: raising required vertical clearance over fire lanes from 13 to 15 feet to allow safe travel for fire apparatus; elimination of two exceptions to the indoor emergency responder radio coverage requirement in some new buildings; and adoption of Appendix D to standardize fire apparatus access road dimensions countywide. On the WUI code staff flagged adoption of a requirement that both the fire code official and the building official sign off on final approvals and a requirement to include locations of emergency water supplies and fire-protection systems on plans.

Public comment and council questions: Several residents and speakers urged careful attention to how requirements would affect existing houses and insurance costs, and asked whether the rules apply only to new construction or also to existing homes after major damage or a substantial remodel. Staff and the fire officials repeatedly clarified that most changes apply to new construction and to projects that meet the codes definition of a substantial remodel (a project that increases floor area by 50% in a 36-month period), and that the codes also function as maintenance codes in some areas.

Chief Dan Mahoney said the updates largely preserve local provisions Fairfax has used for many years and stressed the public-safety purpose: "This only makes things better for the residents to protect themselves," he said. Staff also agreed to provide a redline version of the proposed code text ahead of the Nov. 5 public hearing in response to public requests.

Next steps and votes: Council members voted to waive first readings and schedule public hearings. Staff and the fire department will provide a redline showing changes and additional public outreach before the Nov. 5 hearing. If the council does not adopt these local ordinances before Jan. 1, 2026, the statewide codes would take effect in Fairfax without local amendments.

Ending: The councils Nov. 5 public hearing will be the primary opportunity for final public comment and for council deliberation on the exact local amendments that will remain in effect.