Aliso Viejo council adopts updated building and fire codes, adds WUI standards

The Aliso Viejo City Council voted to adopt an ordinance updating the city's building and fire codes to match the state's recent triennial updates and to incorporate the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) code for very high fire hazard severity zones. Community Development Director So Kim told the council staff recommended a second reading and adoption.

"The most important change to the building code this time is the introduction of the wildland urban interface code, which is referenced as WUI," So Kim said, describing standards intended to reduce wildfire risk in identified high-hazard zones. She said the ordinance also incorporates previously adopted local amendments and Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) changes to the fire code.

So Kim told the council the WUI standards will apply to all construction in zones identified on recently adopted fire maps and noted those maps are available on the city and CAL FIRE websites. She said there were no changes to the ordinance since the first reading and recommended the council adopt the ordinance at second reading.

After opening and immediately closing the public hearing with no speakers, a councilmember moved to adopt the ordinance as written and another councilmember seconded the motion; the motion carried on a voice vote with affirmative responses recorded. Staff said the city will implement the updated code by reference, consistent with state practice.

The ordinance adopts state building and fire code updates, applies WUI provisions in mapped high-fire-hazard areas, and retains locally adopted amendments. The council did not make additional changes at second reading. The ordinance will be implemented according to the timeline in the municipal code and in coordination with the city's permitting process.