Austin, TX Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)
Key Facts
- Zone A
- Within 50 feet of 40 acres wildland
- Zone B
- 50 to 150 feet from 40 acres wildland
- Zone C
- 150 feet to 1.5 miles from wildland
- Conflict rule
- Most restrictive zone governs whole structure
- WUI designated by
- City Council with Texas A&M Forest Service
- Effective
- July 10, 2025 local amendment
Summary
Austin designates every structure inside a mapped wildland-urban interface area as Proximity Zone A, B or C based on its distance from wildland, and that zone letter, set by Sec. 302.4 of the local Wildland-Urban Interface Code, determines which fuel-modification, access and water-supply rules in Sections 504 through 506 apply to the building.
302.4 Proximity Zone designation. Structures located in a designated wildland-urban interface area shall be designated as either Proximity Zone A, Proximity Zone B, or Proximity Zone C depending on the distance from the wildland and shall comply with the applicable Sections 504 through 506 of this code and the requirements of the Building or Residential Codes and the Fire Code as applicable. Proximity Zone A structures are those that are 50 feet or closer to 40 acres of wildland. Proximity Zone B structures are those that are greater than 50 feet and up to 150 feet from 40 acres of wildland. Proximity Zone C structures are those that are greater than 150 feet up to 0.5 miles from 40 acres of wildland and up to 1.5 miles from 750 acres of wildland.
Full Breakdown
4 of Austin's Wildland-Urban Interface Code local amendments (City Code Sec. " The zone designation isn't self-evident from a map alone; Sec. " Where a single lot straddles two zone boundaries, Sec. " The WUI areas themselves are defined in Sec. 1 as areas designated by the City Council, based on input from the Texas A&M Forest Service and implemented by the Austin Fire Department Wildfire Division. Once a structure's zone is fixed, it must comply with the applicable requirements in Sections 504 through 506 of the WUI Code plus the Building, Residential and Fire Codes, which is why the zone letter is the threshold question for any new construction or major remodel inside the mapped interface.
Violations & Fines
Building or remodeling within a designated Wildland-Urban Interface area without meeting the Proximity Zone A, B or C requirements of Sections 504 through 506 is enforced as a WUI Code violation under the same misdemeanor framework as the Fire Code, City Code Sec. 25-1-462, prosecuted in Municipal Court. The code official can also withhold or condition the building permit for the structure until the applicable zone-based standards are met.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Austin decide which wildfire Proximity Zone my house is in?
What if the WUI map doesn't clearly show my property's zone?
My lot spans two Proximity Zones. Which rules apply?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Austin
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Austin to another location·View the Texas fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.