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Midway Council adopts WUI building code and city map, declines formal adoption of state high‑risk map
Summary
The Midway City Council on Feb. 17 adopted Ordinance 2026‑06 to enforce the Utah Wildland‑Urban Interface (WUI) building code within a locally drawn WUI boundary, approved automatic map review on annexation and declined to formally adopt the state FFSL high‑risk map. Concerns were raised about inclusion of the Cascades subdivision.
The Midway City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2026‑06 on Feb. 17 to apply the Utah Wildland‑Urban Interface building code inside a locally defined WUI boundary and to require automatic map review when properties are annexed.
Planner Katie Villani told the council that state law requires adoption of the Utah WUI code but that cities may set locally enforceable thresholds; Villani also said staff removed language that would have required formal adoption of the state's FFSL high‑risk map after the county fire warden explained the state map applies automatically and the related fees fund administration of the risk‑reduction program rather than fire suppression.
County Fire Warden Troy Morgan and Fire Chief Eric Hales described technical constraints on drawing boundaries: the WUI boundary must follow definable natural or man‑made lines and state guidance uses a structure exposure score. Council Member Kevin Payne questioned including the Cascades at Soldier Hollow subdivision in the city map because of its lower apparent density and vegetation compared with other included areas; several council members said they would defer to fire professionals and state scoring that showed higher exposure in parts of the neighborhood. Villani noted pending legislation could limit cities from including areas scoring below 5 on the state structure exposure map.
Council Member Payne moved to adopt a modified city map that would explicitly include the Cascades; that motion failed. Council Member Andy Garland then moved to accept the staff‑proposed map and ordinance language (excluding formal adoption of the state map) and add automatic WUI map review language in annexation agreements; the motion passed unanimously (Garland, Orme, Osborne, Payne, Simonsen — Aye).
The ordinance package includes an approach to automatically update the locally adopted Utah WUI code when the state issues a new edition, while allowing the city to adopt applicability thresholds similar to other jurisdictions. Staff said building‑code enforcement within the WUI would occur through the city's building official when additions or renovations trigger the code.
Mayor Craig Simons thanked Fire Chief Hales, Warden Morgan and Fire Marshal Clint Neerings for their participation. The ordinance becomes part of the city code as adopted; any property owner questions about how the boundary affects permits or insurance were not resolved at the meeting, and Villani advised property owners to consult insurers directly.
