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Cottonwood Heights staff brief council on House Bill 48 WUI rules, maps and potential fees
Summary
City planners and fire staff briefed the council on House Bill 48 obligations to adopt a wildland-urban interface code and map by Jan. 1, 2026, clarified the code applies to new construction and building-permit work, and summarized possible state-administered fees and appeal procedures.
City planning and fire staff told the Cottonwood Heights City Council on Nov. 18 that House Bill 48 requires municipalities to adopt a wildland-urban interface (WUI) building and fire code and to promulgate a WUI map based on state data.
"House Bill 48 last year... requires all cities to adopt the WUI code," staff said, noting the statutory adoption deadline of Jan. 1, 2026 and the risk that failure to adopt could jeopardize state wildfire mitigation funding. Staff said the city’s draft ordinance uses the state-provided structure-exposure data and applies a local WUI overlay to parcels with a structure-exposure score of 5 or greater for local code enforcement; the state’s higher-risk designation (score of 7+) is expected to be used by the state to levy any high-risk fees.
Staff clarified applicability: the WUI building and fire standards will be enforced for new construction, permit-triggered remodels and rebuilds (including post-fire reconstruction) but will not force retrofits of existing structures absent permit-triggered work. "Any parcels that have a structure exposure score of 5 or greater must comply with the fire code" during permitted work, staff said. For properties scoring 7 or higher, staff said the state may assess a flat fee—current estimates discussed in the meeting ranged broadly from $20 to $100 depending on structure size and other tiers—and the state will provide an appeals process through the Department of Natural Resources.
Council members asked about insurance implications and the interaction between local and state maps. One staff speaker summarized the policy intent: the bill aims to reduce wildfire risk, standardize construction and defensible-space practices statewide, and encourage insurers to rely on state data and to follow notice rules when premium changes exceed 20 percent.
Staff said they will bring the ordinances (WUI code and map) back for council action at the December meeting; councilors expressed interest in robust public education and homeowner outreach before any fees or assessments become final.
Next steps: the city will present draft ordinances and the proposed WUI map at the second December meeting for possible adoption to meet the Jan. 1, 2026 deadline.
