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Council hears first public testimony on proposed wildfire structure-hardening code
Summary
Fire department fuels manager presented a draft ordinance to adopt new building standards for wildfire resistance; the ordinance would apply to new construction and major remodels and requires measures such as Class A roofing and ember-resistant vents. No action taken at first hearing.
The Payson Common Council on April 23 received a staff presentation and public comment on Ordinance 970, a proposed amendment to the Town of Payson Code of Ordinances to adopt a wildfire structure-hardening building code (Title 15, Chapter 150, Section 50.31).
Kevin McCully, fuels manager and battalion chief for the Payson Fire Department, told the council that structure hardening is a proven method to reduce wildfire damage and that the proposed code would apply to new structures and existing buildings when more than 50% of the original structure is modified or the permitted size increases by more than 50%. “The hardening of structures is a proven method to provide resistance to wildfires within a community,” McCully said.
Key provisions presented include a requirement for Class A roofing on covered projects, specified protections for roof valleys and open eaves, requirements for metal or noncombustible gutters and downspouts on new construction, and limitations on exterior vent openings (with ember-resistant vents allowed). The draft also would require an on‑site fuel‑mitigation inspection timed so mitigation is completed before final inspection and would apply to accessory structures over 200 square feet or within 10 feet of a structure.
Council members asked detailed questions about scope and enforcement, including how the 50% threshold for roof replacement would be measured, whether replacement siding triggers the rule, and how the code applies to town-owned buildings. McCully and staff clarified that the code would not automatically require upgrades for routine repairs or minor siding work and that fuel mitigation requirements remain unchanged but would be required earlier in the construction inspection sequence.
McCully and other staff said adoption could influence insurance underwriting and reduce catastrophic wildfire risk, but that town buildings and existing structures would not be retroactively required to meet the new standard. The planning and building code update is part of a broader code adoption cycle; staff noted the town previously adopted the 2018 building and fire codes and is preparing to consider 2024 updates.
Because this was a first public hearing, council took no action. Staff will return with the ordinance language and any recommended edits for a second hearing and formal adoption vote at a later meeting.
