Desert Hot Springs council OKs first reading of updated fire and wildland urban interface codes

The Desert Hot Springs City Council unanimously approved on first reading an ordinance updating the city’s fire code and adopting a new Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) chapter, with the ordinance scheduled to return Dec. 2 for a required second reading and final adoption.

City staff described the package as the second phase of the 2025 update to Title 15 (building and construction code). Mr. Clark told the council the amendments “clarified the required separation of secondary access for new subdivisions,” reorganize and add requirements for sprinkler systems, add monitoring requirements for new commercial kitchen suppression systems and a compliance requirement for mobile food preparation vehicles, and “require increased fire flow for any new subdivision in the Wildland urban interface.”

Staff said the proposed new chapter, to be codified as 15.23, would apply construction requirements in high and very-high fire hazard severity zones, including ignition-resistant materials for roofs, windows and siding. Deputy Fire Marshal Cole Hetrich was present to answer technical questions from the council.

Supporters of the change said the updates are intended to make new construction and new subdivisions more resilient in the portions of the city mapped in higher fire hazard zones; staff noted most of the city lies in moderate or no-designation zones, with only a small northern area shown in high severity on the staff map.

Council members voted in favor on a roll call (Council Member Pittz, Council Member Pi, Council Member Voss, Mayor Pro Tem Gardner and Mayor Mattis). The ordinance will return for a second reading and final adoption on Dec. 2; staff said the changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2026 if adopted at that time.

Reported next steps: the council directed staff to bring back the ordinance for its Dec. 2 meeting for final action.