Sammamish, WA Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)

Sammamish is partly located within the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), the transition zone where homes and infrastructure meet undeveloped wildland vegetation. The city's Community Development department notes that parts of Sammamish fall within the WUI but cautions that the WUI is only one component of wildfire risk and is not itself a wildfire-risk map. A large portion of King County's WUI lies within the boundaries of Eastside Fire & Rescue, which serves Sammamish. Although Washington adopted a 2021 Wildland-Urban Interface Code (WAC Chapter 51-55) intended to take effect statewide, the State Building Code Council delayed it and, following 2024 legislation, filed rules to rescind the 2021 WUI amendments, so there is currently no mandatory state WUI building code in force. As a result, Sammamish addresses wildfire risk through guidance and voluntary mitigation rather than a WUI-specific construction mandate. The city recommends creating defensible space around structures, screening vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh, keeping roofs and gutters clear, and maintaining the home's exterior. Eastside Fire & Rescue offers the 'Wildfire Safe Eastside' home-assessment program. The city also reminds residents that the tree regulations of the Sammamish Municipal Code continue to apply when clearing vegetation in WUI areas, so wildfire mitigation must be balanced with the city's tree-protection rules.