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Marin County, CA Fire Regulations: Wildfire Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified May 2026

Key Facts

WUI Code: Marin Fire Code Title 16 / Ord. 3775
Construction Standard: CBC Chapter 7A
Inspection: Marin County Fire Dept.
Coverage: Most of unincorporated Marin
Defensible Space: 100 ft required year-round

Summary

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.

City-specific rules exist: San Rafael has its own wildfire zones rules that differ from Marin County's county-level regulations. If you live in San Rafael, check the city-specific page instead.

Contact your local jurisdiction for information on a specific area that is located in the Local Responsibility Area. 2025 LRA FHSZ Rollout- All Counties PDF Maps FHSZ recommendations in LRA viewer Intermediary Data Sets for LRA FHSZ LRA FHSZ Combined Data as Recommended by the Office of the State Fire Marshal - Phases 1 through 4 Maps Released: Phase1 - February 10, 2025, Phase 2- February 24,2025, Phase 3 - March 10, 2025, and Phase 4 - March 24, 2025 State Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps Fire

View official code

Full Breakdown

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.

Violations & Fines

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my Marin County property in a WUI zone?

Most unincorporated Marin parcels are in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone (Moderate, High, or Very High). Check the Marin County Fire Department WUI maps or the CAL FIRE FHSZ viewer.

What construction standards apply in Marin WUI zones?

New construction and substantial remodels must meet California Building Code Chapter 7A: ignition-resistant exteriors, Class A roofs, ember-resistant vents, and dual-pane tempered windows.

Who designates WUI zones in Marin County?

CAL FIRE creates the statewide Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps, and Marin County adopts them through Title 16 (Marin County Fire Code), most recently updated by Ordinance 3775 in 2024.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Marin County

Fire Pits & Backyard FiresHeavy Restrictions Outdoor BurningHeavy Restrictions Propane StorageSome Restrictions Brush ClearanceLight Restrictions FireworksHeavy Restrictions Smoke DetectorsSome Restrictions Parking Rules: EV ChargingSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions Parking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSome Restrictions Animal Ordinances: Bird ProtectionSome Restrictions Landscaping Rules: Native PlantsLight Restrictions Landscaping Rules: Rainwater HarvestingFew Restrictions

All Marin County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Marin County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview

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Wildfire Zones in Cities Across Marin County

San Rafael, CA