Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildland Interface topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Orangeville discusses adopting Wildland‑Urban Interface code required by House Bill 48
Summary
At a Jan. 8 public hearing, Orangeville officials reviewed Ordinance 2026‑1 to adopt the Wildland‑Urban Interface code under House Bill 48, describing homeowner defensible‑space duties, potential property tax fees for high‑risk areas, and an online risk map that flags about five local zones.
Orangeville officials on Jan. 8 reviewed an ordinance to adopt the Wildland‑Urban Interface code required by House Bill 48, which the presenter said the state now requires all cities and counties to adopt. "The state has decided this, and everybody has to adopt it," Speaker 3 said as council members introduced Ordinance 2026‑1.
Speaker 3 summarized the measure and its local implications, saying the code evaluates where structures will be built and the wildfire risk at those locations. The presenter described homeowner duties such as reducing brush and maintaining defensible space and warned that insurance companies may decline coverage if developers or homeowners do not reduce fire‑spread risk. "If it's deemed to be in like a high risk area, the county can impose a fee that would show up on their property taxes," Speaker 3 said.
Speaker 3 pointed council members to an online map identifying about five high‑risk areas near Orangeville, naming Fossil Rock and several subdivisions near Joe's Valley among those highlighted. The presenter noted cabins and addresses in Orangeville near Jones Valley (referred to in the discussion as Jones/Joe's Valley) would be treated as county properties for some program elements.
No formal action to adopt the ordinance was recorded during the hearing; the session included explanation and an opportunity for public comment, but no vote on Ordinance 2026‑1 was taken that evening. The council closed the public hearing and moved to the regular session, with the ordinance remaining as an item for future action or formal consideration.
