HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd-2019-007 WUIBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY OF KITTITAS
STATE OF WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE NO. 2019- 00 --T-
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING KITTITAS COUNTY CODE TITLE 20 TO ADOPT
AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE
WHEREAS, Kittitas County adopted the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC)
in 2006 and applied it only to areas outside of fire districts; and
WHEREAS, In 2013, Kittitas County amended Kittitas County Code (KCC) Title 14 and 20 to
adopt the IWUIC for the entire County with amendments; and
WHEREAS, Section 105.1 of the IWUIC allows the code official to grant modifications for
individual cases where enforcement of the strict letter of the code is impractical,
where the modification is in conformance with the intent and purpose of the code,
and where the modification does not lessen any fire protection requirements or
any degree of structural integrity; and
WHEREAS, The Kittitas County Board of Commissioners desired specific criteria for granting
such modifications to the IWUIC; and
WHEREAS, On March 21, 2018 Kittitas County issued a press release requesting all
individuals interested in serving on a committee to develop such criteria submit
an application; and
WHEREAS, A number of applications were submitted and the Board of County
Commissioners considered the applications on May 29, 2018; and
WHEREAS, On June 5, 2018, The Board of County Commissioners formed the International
Wildland-Urban Interface Modification Criteria Advisory Committee; and
WHEREAS, Said committee met six times to develop and recommend amendments for
granting IWUIC modifications; and
WHEREAS, A copy of the proposed amendments was filed with the Kittitas County Auditor on
April 16, 2019 in accordance with RCW 36.32.120(7), and
WHEREAS, Public notice for a public hearing to consider the amendments was provided in
the Daily Record on April 18, 2019 and April 25, 2019; and
WHEREAS, The Board of County Commissioners conducted a public hearing to consider the
proposed amendments to Title 20 on May 7, 2019; and
WHEREAS, At the May 7, 2019 public hearing, the proposed amendments were considered
and approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, that the Board of County Commissioners, after due
deliberation, does hereby adopt the amendments to Title 20 of Kittitas County Code as shown in
the attached Exhibit A.
ADOPTED this 21 st day of
AIL
ATTEST
CLERK OF THE BOARD
2019
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Cory Wright, Chairmoa—
.P'Clerk of the Board- Julie Kjorsvik
❑ Deputy Clerk of the Board- Mandy Buchholz
hairman
Commissioner
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Neil Caulkins,
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Exhibit A
Chapter 20.10
Wildland Urban Interface Code
Kittitas County hereby adopts the following code for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations
for all areas designated as Wildland Urban Interface areas within Kittitas County.
1. The International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) the most current adopted edition, as
published by the International Code Council; with the following adopted appendices and
amendments:
a. Appendices
i. Appendix B: Vegetation Management Plan
ii. Appendix C: Fire Hazard Severity Form
b. Amendments
1. The following amendments shall be made:
Section 105.2 Technical assistance. To determine the acceptability of technotogles, processes, products,
facilities, materials. and uses attending the design, operation or use of a building or premises subject to
the inspection of the code official, the code official is authorized to require the owner, the owner's
authorized a ent or the person in possession or control of the building or premises to provide, without
charge to the jurisdictiona technical o inion and report. Thea inion and report shall be prepared b a
federal fire agency or fire marshal's office, a state fire agency or _fire marshal's office, a public university
with an accredited program in Fire Sciences, or a certified scientific and objective testing agency such as
Underwriters Laboratories or CSA Group Testing and Certification Inc. The Code Official shall have the
authority to approve testing agencies. ^ eualified a ^eeralfst io a' V Or fFFe
The
opinion and report shall analyze the fire safety of the design, fire resistance of building products,
operation or use of the building or premises, the facilities and appurtenances situated thereon and fuel
management for purposes of establishing fire hazard severity to recommend necessary changes.
Section 302.1 Wildland Urban Interface Area Declaration of Designations. All unincorporated areas within
Kittitas County are designated as Wildland Urban Interface areas and shall be identified per the most current
edition of the WWI-Kittitas County Wildland Urban Areas map.
Section 403.2.1 Dimensions. Not adopted. See KCC Code Titles 12 and 20.
Section 403.2.2 Length. Not adopted. See KCC Code Titles 12 and 20.
Section 403.2.3 Service Limitations. Not adopted. See KCC Title 12.
403.4.1 Sign Construction. All road identification signs shall meet Kittitas County Road Standards and Public
Works requirements.
Section 404.2 Water sources. The distance from proposed structures or property lines at which a water
source is available for use shall be approved by the fire code official.
Water sources shall comply with the following:
1. Man-made water sources shall have a minimum usable water volume as determined by the
adequate water supply needs in accordance with Section 404.5. This water source shall be equipped
with an approved hydrant. The water level of the water source shall be maintained at all times. The
design, construction, location, water level maintenance, access and access maintenance of man-
made water source shall be approved by the fire code official.
Section 404.3 Draft Sites. Not adopted
501.1 Scope. Buildings and structures shall be constructed in accordance with the International Building and
Residential Codes, as well as this code.
Exceptions:
Accessory structures not exceeding 200 square feet in floor area when located at least 50 feet from
buildings containing habitable spaces. Commercial structures of any size shall be required to be
permitted.
Agricultural buildings at least 50 feet from buildings containing habitable spaces.
Table 503.1 Ignition Resistant Construction a
FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY
Moderate Hazard
High Hazard
Extreme Hazard
Water Supply (b)
Water Supply (b)
Water Supply (b)
Defensible Space
(c)
Nonconforming
Conforming
(d)
IR2
Nonconforming
(e)
IR1
Conforming
(d)
IR1
Nonconforming
(e)
IR1
N.C.
Conforming
pm4%-(d)
IR1
N.C.
(Nonconforming
(e)
Not Permitted
Conforming
IR3
IR2
IR2
IR1
IRI
IR1
N.C.
1.5 x Conforming
IR3
IR3
IR3
IR2
IR2
IRI
2.5 x ConformingIEK::11
IR3 IEK::11
IR2
IR2
IR2
A. Access shall be provided in accordance with section 403.
B. Subdivisions shall have a conforming water supply in accordance with Section 402.1.
a. IR1= Ignitions -resistant construction in accordance with Section 504.
b. IR2 = Ignition -resistant construction in accordance with Section 505.
c. IR3 = Ignition -resistant construction in accordance with Section 506.
d. N.C. = Exterior walls shall have a fire -resistance rating of not less than 1 -hour and
the exterior surfaces of such walls shall be noncombustible. Usage of log wall
construction is allowed.
C. Conformance based on Section 603.
D. Conformance based on Section 404.
A nonconforming water supply is any water system or source that does not comply with
Section 404, including situations where there is no water supply for structure protection
or fire suppression.
504.5 Exterior walls. Exterior wails of buildin s or structures shall be constructed with one of the
Following methods:
1. Materials approved for not less than 1 -hour fire -resistance -rated construction on the exterior side.
2. Approved noncombustible materials.
3. Heavy timber or log wall construction.
4. Fire -retardant -treated wood on the exterior side. The fire -retardant -treated wood shall be labeled for
exterior use and meet the re uirements of Section 2303.2 of the InternotionaiBuildin Cade.
5. Ignition -resistant materials on the exterior side. Ignition -resistant materials shah include materials
treated with a fire retardant product tested in accordance with ASTM E84 or approved by an
independent testing laboratory. Testing shall be performed by a certified scientific and obiective testing
agency such as Underwriters Laboratories or CSA Group Testing and Certification Inc. The Code official
small have authority to approve of testing agencies. The applicant shall provide an affidavit confirming
that all fire retardant products were applied according to the product specifications and shall record a
notice to title not if i ng Future landowners of re uirements for future reap Plication of the P rod uct.
Such material shall extend from the top of the foundation to the underside of the roof sheathing.
504.7 Appendages and projections. Unenclosed accessory structures attached to building with habitable
spaces and projections, such as decks, shall be a minimum of 1 -hour fire resistance -rated construction, heavy
timber construction or constructed of one of the following:
1. Approved noncombustible materials,
2. Fire -retardant treated wood identified for exterior use and meeting the requirements of Section
2303.2 of the International Building Code,
3. Ignition resistant building materials in accordance with section 503.2. of
504.10.1 Vent locations. Attic ventilation openings shall not be located In soffits, in_eave overha 's
between rafters at eaves or in other overhaniz areas except when o enin s are a roved b Cal Fire
approved by an independent testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories, American National
Standards Institute (AN SO, or ICC Evaluation Service (ICC -ES). or approved by the Code Off icialper
Section 105.2. Gable end and dormer vents shall be located_ not less than 10 feet 3048 mm) from lot
lines. Underfloor ventilation openings shall be located as close to grade as practical.
505.7 Appendages and projections. Unenclosed accessory structures attached to building with habitable
spaces and projections, such as decks, shall be a minimum of 1 -hour fire resistance -rated construction, heavy
timber construction or constructed of one of the following:
1. Approved noncombustible materials,
2. Fire -retardant treated wood identified for exterior use and meeting the requirements of Section
2303.2 of the International Building Code,
3. Ignition resistant building materials in accordance with section 503.2 or
602 Automatic Sprinkler Systems: Section 602 shall not apply to building permit applications submitted prior
to March 15, 2018. This exception shall not apply to areas as "IR 1 (No Site Assmt Allowed)" on the Kittitas
County Wildland Urban Interface Areas map.
Section 603.2.2 Trees. Trees are allowed within the rlef_ensible space, provided the horizontal distance
between crowns of adjacent trees and crowns of trees and structures,,, overhead _electrical facilities or
unmodified fuel is not less than 10 feet (3048 mm). A clump of trees may be considered to be ofie tree
for the purpose of meeting, the 10 -foot separation requirement, provided:
1. A minimum of 10 feet of separation is provijed between the _structure and any vegetation or the
crowns of any trees.
2. Trees within the clump shall be native to the local area.
3. The maximum number of trees in any given clump shall be limited to IIiree (3).
4. Trees within a clump shall be within a 15 -foot diameter of each other as measured on the
outside of the tree trunks.
Alternatives to tree spacing and separation requirecnents maybe approved by the code official based on
a recommendation from an NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist or a certified forester.
A covenant shall be reQuired for all_new land divisions resulting, in moret_han 10 lots that _reciuires all
future landowners of the lots to complywith defensible space provisions after construction.