Bluff council moves to align with state wildfire code requiring new building standards

Bluff — Bluff town staff told the council that a state law known as HP 48 creates a new fee structure tied to high-risk wildfire maps and requires participating jurisdictions to adopt wildland-urban-interface (WUI) building codes.

Mayor (Unidentified Speaker) said the recently released state maps show no town parcels in the highest-fee wildfire category, so Bluff avoided immediate fee assessments. But the law also compels Bluff, as a member of the cooperative wildfire system, to adopt WUI building codes and a local WUI map to remain in the cooperative program and keep mutual-aid and other benefits.

Kristen (staff) summarized the statute’s second effect: "You have to adopt wildland urban interface building codes," and noted the town’s current baseline is the 2006 version of the code; the state is likely to adopt 2024 building codes soon. She said a local WUI map will define where the codes apply and that the Planning & Zoning Commission will review maps at its upcoming meeting.

The mayor said staff plans a joint work session with Planning & Zoning on Feb. 19 to review the maps and that, depending on recommendations, the town could complete the public hearing and adopt necessary ordinance language as soon as March to align with the state requirement.

Councilors raised implementation questions about whether adopting the codes would change zoning classifications (staff said it would not) and discussed whether the town could roll WUI requirements into existing building-code enforcement rather than creating separate zoning changes. Staff explained that the local change applies at permit/inspection time, requiring properties undergoing new construction or major remodels to meet the WUI standards in affected areas.

The council did not vote on this item at the meeting. Staff will present maps and ordinance options to Planning & Zoning and return to council for a recommended timeline and public hearing schedule.

What’s next: Planning & Zoning will view the state maps at its Thursday meeting; a joint work session with council is scheduled for Feb. 19. Staff recommended a public hearing and possible adoption in March to bring Bluff into compliance and preserve its role in the cooperative wildfire system.