What changed

California’s Office of the State Fire Marshal updated the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zone map in April 2026, reflecting post-2025 fire-season analysis and modeling. In San Diego County, the expansion added neighborhoods in Alpine, Ramona, Julian, Jamul, and parts of Fallbrook that were previously outside WUI boundaries.

What it means for roof replacement

California Building Code Chapter 7A requires Class A fire-rated roof assemblies on new construction and re-roof work in WUI zones. The practical implications:

  • Asphalt shingles sold in California are almost all Class A — compliance is easy on shingle re-roofs.
  • Tile + metal roofs are Class A by default — already fine.
  • Wood shake + wood shingle roofs are banned for re-roof in WUI. Any existing wood roof in the expanded zone must swap to a Class A material at next re-roof.
  • Eave + soffit detailing rules tighten — non-combustible material required at eave + rake transitions.
  • Valley flashing must be non-combustible.

Most SD County homeowners won’t notice a cost change — asphalt architectural or tile is standard spec anyway. Homeowners with older wood shake roofs in the expanded zones (uncommon but still present in Julian, Alpine, Fallbrook backcountry) face a more expensive re-roof than they’d planned.

How to check your home’s status

County of San Diego publishes a parcel-level WUI map viewer showing which properties fall in the updated zone. The 2026 boundaries are live as of April 22.

Permit implications

Re-roof permits in expanded WUI zones now need to cite Chapter 7A compliance on the approval form. Most SD County jurisdictions updated their permit application templates in March 2026. A roofer who hasn’t updated their process will likely hit permit-review delays — worth asking upfront.

Next steps

If you’re in one of the expanded zones and planning a re-roof, get a quote from us — we include Chapter 7A-compliant material selection + code-compliant flashing detail in every quote in WUI areas. Or call (858) 808-6055.

Source: California Office of the State Fire Marshal — WUI program. For parcel-specific boundary questions, confirm with County of San Diego Planning & Development Services directly.