Since January, the City of Austin has had new rules in place for certain construction and remodeling in an effort to prevent wildfires. Austin adopted the Wildland Urban Interface Code (or WUI Code) last spring and began implementing the code at the start of the year, a move which the city says makes Austin the largest major city in Texas to adopt such a code.
These codes are already commonplace in fire-prone areas of California, and Austin fire leaders believe adding these requirements is essential to reduce the risk of fires in Central Texas.
Austin’s WUI code requirements in the city apply to new construction, additions and remodels in the area within 150 feet of a 40-acre or larger wildland area, or within 1.5 miles of a 750-acre or larger wildland area.