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Uintah City Council adopts Wildland-Urban Interface building code in 4-1 vote
Summary
The Uintah City Council voted 4-1 on Dec. 16 to adopt Ordinance 299-25, creating a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building code under 2025 Utah HB 48. Council members cited wildfire history and state funding eligibility as primary reasons for adoption amid outstanding state-level implementation guidance.
Uintah City Council voted 4-1 Dec. 16 to adopt Ordinance 299-25, establishing Chapter 11.11 of the municipal code to implement a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building code consistent with 2025 Utah House Bill 48. Council Member Combe moved to approve the ordinance and Council Member Bell seconded the motion, which passed with Council Members Combe, Bell, Mayor Cutler and Council Member Roberts voting aye and Council Member Patterson voting nay.
The ordinance adopts a WUI sensitive lands/hazard map and tighter building standards that, according to City Attorney Bryan Baron, will primarily apply to new construction and major renovations. During deliberations, council members and staff noted that adoption preserves the City’s eligibility for state fire response funding and mitigation grants; council was told that failure to adopt could jeopardize those funds. Mayor Cutler referenced a 2017 wildfire that left the city with nearly $100,000 in firefighting costs and framed adoption as a means to reduce fiscal exposure and improve collective preparedness.
Chief Minton of Weber County Wildland Fire presented background on wildfire risk and the Code, and staff explained that the State’s Forestry, Fire & State Lands (FFSL) has not yet issued full clarifications or an official state WUI map. The record in the meeting reflects council acceptance of the ordinance language (which includes an effective-date provision) but does not specify the ordinance’s effective date.
Procedural record: "Motion made by Council Member Combe to approve Ordinance 299-25 Wildland Urban Interface Code adopting Chapter 11.11 entitled Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Building Code including the WUI sensitive lands/hazard area map in accordance with the 2025 Utah Legislature HB 48."
