Moab council adopts 2006 Utah Wildland-Urban Interface code but delays mapping local properties

Moab city staff recommended adopting the 2006 Utah Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) code to meet state requirements while postponing the local property-mapping step that would designate high-risk parcels.

Alexi, a city staff presenter, told the council the state’s high-risk map did not match local fire patterns and “it would be premature to apply it to properties here” because the state map “identif[ies] rockier areas farther out as higher risk and some of the areas closer to town…as lower risk,” which staff said did not reflect where fires historically occur. Planning commission had recommended approval of the code with no properties identified.

Councilmember Jason moved to adopt city ordinance 2026-03 enacting section 15.08.0.011 under title 15, chapter 15.08 (the 2006 Utah WUI code). Tawny seconded. The council approved the ordinance by voice vote, 4-0.

City staff emphasized the narrow effect of the vote: the council adopted the WUI construction and mitigation standards required by state law but did not select any mapped properties for the state-designated high-risk list. Staff noted the state code can be updated and recommended the city revisit mapping and mitigation boundaries with local stakeholders on a recurring basis. The city’s next steps include monitoring state updates and coordinating with county emergency management and the fire department on locally appropriate mitigation measures.