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Committee Debates Incorporating WUI Code into State Building Code; Map, timing, and local flexibility are central points
Summary
SB 6,279 would incorporate portions of the International Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) code into Washington's state building code once DNR completes statewide hazard and county risk maps. Supporters cite wildfire mitigation needs; counties and builders urge waiting for parcel-level maps and protections for environmental laws.
Committee staff briefed Senate Bill 6,279, which would incorporate the International Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) code into the Washington State Building Code after the Department of Natural Resources completes statewide wildfire hazard and county-level risk maps.
Staff described the bill's main components: the WUI code would be adopted by the State Building Code Council (SBCC) by Nov. 1, 2029, with the SBCC working with DNR, the state fire marshal's office and other agencies to produce regionally appropriate provisions. The bill would allow counties and cities to adopt local amendments with approval from local fire marshals, and would require consultation with environmental agencies to ensure defensible-space requirements align with state environmental laws.
Supporters of the bill and fire marshals said the code provides needed minimum regulations to reduce wildfire risk at the home and community level. "There is a strong intention to make things align," one witness said, and Mason County Fire Marshal Randy Collins urged minor amendments to align companion House and Senate provisions and to extend timelines to allow coordinated adoptions and local transitions.
Conservation organizations and some local officials urged stronger language to ensure defensible-space standards "conform" — not merely "align" — with Washington's environmental laws and to require public access and comment on draft statewide and county maps. Charlotte Parsons, testifying for the South Sound group formerly known as Black Hills Audubon, called for stronger transparency requirements and flexibility for the SBCC to adopt region-specific science-based provisions.
Builders and development representatives raised cost and implementation concerns. Alex Hirt of the Master Builders Association warned that adopting the full international WUI code before parcel-level maps exist could be premature and cited a study his group referenced estimating roughly $24,000 in added per-home costs under full WUI adoption; builders urged waiting until DNR's mapping is complete and ensuring local flexibility to modify maps at parcel level.
Local planning directors and county officials repeatedly called for more operational detail, warning that the DNR hazard/risk map granularity may be insufficient for permit-counter decisions and that implementation without local flexibility and funding/technical support could prove difficult.
The committee did not take final action on SB 6,279 at the hearing; witnesses and senators signaled an intent to align House and Senate companion language and work on clarifying amendments.
