Most of unincorporated Marin County is designated Wildland-Urban Interface under the Marin County Fire Code (Title 16). WUI properties must meet Chapter 7A construction standards for ignition-resistant materials and maintain 100 feet of defensible space year-round.
Marin County Code Title 16 (re-enacted as Ordinance 3775 in December 2024) adopts the California Fire Code and Wildland-Urban Interface Code. Nearly all unincorporated Marin is mapped within designated WUI / Fire Hazard Severity Zones (Moderate, High, or Very High). New construction and substantial remodels in WUI zones must comply with California Building Code Chapter 7A: ignition-resistant exterior walls, Class A roof assemblies, ember-resistant vents, dual-pane tempered windows, and enclosed eaves. Marin County Fire Department inspects compliance at building permit review.
Building in a WUI zone without Chapter 7A compliance prevents permit final and certificate of occupancy. Existing properties failing inspection face annual defensible-space citations with fines up to $500 per offense plus abatement liens.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how San Rafael's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
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