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Maricopa, AZ Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Adopted code
International WUI Code, 2024 Edition
Local amendment
Section 101.1 title inserts City of Maricopa
Enforcing official
Maricopa Building Official (§ 15.05.160)
Appeal path
Board of appeals under § 15.05.190
Criminal penalty
Class 1 misdemeanor per § 15.05.210(A)

Summary

Maricopa governs wildfire-prone construction through the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, adopted in full under City Code § 15.05.150 and enforced through the same permit, inspection, and penalty framework that covers every other adopted building code in Chapter 15.05.

A. That certain document entitled and known as "International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, 2024 Edition," published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted as the International Wildland-Urban interface code of the city of Maricopa and made a part of this chapter the same as though said code was specifically set forth in full herein with changes and amendments to the code as set forth in subsection (B) of this section. An electronic copy of said code shall be filed with the office of the city clerk and kept available for public use and inspection. B. Amendments to Wildland-Urban Interface Code. 1. Amend Section 101.1 Title by adding the following in the insert: City of Maricopa. ... "Codes" shall mean the codes listed and adopted in MCC 15.05.040 through 15.05.150. ... It is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, entity or enterprise to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, demolish, equip, use, occupy or maintain any building, structure or property in the jurisdiction, or cause the same to be done, contrary to or in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or the codes adopted herein.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-10, passed April 21, 2026).

Full Breakdown

150 adopts the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, 2024 Edition, published by the International Code Council, in full as the city's WUI code, with an electronic copy kept on file at the office of the city clerk for public inspection. 1, inserting "City of Maricopa" as the jurisdiction name in the code's title section; the substantive fire-hazard-severity, defensible-space, ignition-resistant construction, and vegetation-management standards of the 2024 model code otherwise apply unaltered inside city limits. 190. Because the WUI Code sits inside the same chapter as the building, fire, and residential codes, a single set of definitions, permit procedures, and appeal rights governs construction in Maricopa's wildland-urban interface areas rather than a separate standalone ordinance.

Violations & Fines

Constructing, altering, or maintaining a structure in violation of the Wildland-Urban Interface Code is unlawful under Maricopa City Code § 15.05.200, and the chapter-wide penalties of § 15.05.210 apply: a Class 1 misdemeanor criminally, or a civil penalty up to $1,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an enterprise per offense, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Maricopa have its own wildfire building code?
Yes. Maricopa City Code § 15.05.150 adopts the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, 2024 Edition, in full as local law, with only the title section amended to name the city as the jurisdiction.
Who enforces the WUI Code in Maricopa?
The Building Official administers and enforces all codes adopted in Chapter 15.05, including the WUI Code, under § 15.05.160, and may grant variances under § 15.05.180 where strict compliance creates unnecessary hardship.
Can I appeal a WUI Code decision?
Yes. Section 15.05.190 gives a person the right to appeal a Building Official decision under the WUI Code to the board of appeals, including claims that the code was misapplied or that an equally good alternative was proposed.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Maricopa

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