Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code
The City’s adoption of the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code and the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code Map implements action items identified in the City’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan and ensures the City is compliant with state requirements for wildfire mitigation. The code is intended to mitigate the risk to life and structures from wildfires and fire exposures from adjacent structures. The code also reduces the possibility of structure fires from spreading to open space lands.
The Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code applies to any properties mapped as low, moderate, or high fire intensity on the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code Map. The Code requires new development and certain expansions and improvements to existing buildings to adhere to fire hardening requirements for structures and, in some cases, for sites (e.g. to remove or maintain landscaping).
The Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code is available here. Please consult the Planning Division at 720-509-1180 with any questions concerning the application of these regulations.
1. You can locate your property’s fire intensity classification by entering your address into the 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code Map. For purposes of applying the CWRC, if any portion of your property is mapped within a designated fire intensity classification the CWRC applies to your property.
2. If no portion of your property is mapped within a low, moderate, or high fire intensity classification, the CWRC does not apply to your property, although the City does recommend that all homeowners maintain their properties in alignment with wildfire mitigation best practices.
3. If your property is mapped within a fire intensity classification, you are required to maintain your existing landscaping and trees in adherence with the CWRC (e.g. removing dead plant materials adjacent to your home); you are not required to remove existing trees or plants unless you seek to complete one of the improvement actions identified in #7 below.
4. If your property is mapped within a low fire intensity classification, the CWRC’s Class I regulations apply to your property.
5. If your property is mapped within a moderate or high fire intensity classification, the CWRC’s Class II regulations apply to your property.
6. If your property is mapped within a fire intensity classification, you are not required to complete corrective mitigation actions on your property unless you seek to complete one of more of the following improvements to your property. Completing one of these activities will apply the CWRC to the listed improvement and may require that you complete additional mitigation activities on your property (e.g. removing plants that are immediately adjacent to your home):
a. Construction of new structures.
b. Installing new landscaping and/or planting new trees, or altering existing landscaping.
c. Constructing new fences and/or retaining walls.
d. Completing an addition or alteration to an existing structure (e.g. a home) that will add/alter 500 square feet or more of the existing structure.
e. Replacing or repairing/reconstructing 25% or more of an existing roof.
f. Replacing or repairing/reconstructing 25% or more of existing exterior walls.
7. IMPORTANT: The improvement activities listed above (#7) require a permit from the City of Lone Tree. Please contact the Community Development Department at 720-509-1180 for assistance with the permit process.
8. The following improvement activities are exempt from the CWRC:
a. Interior renovations.
b. Painting or staining exterior walls, or similar wall maintenance work that does not involve removal/replacement of wall materials.
c. Alterations/repairs to detached accessory structures that are (1) one story, (2) at least 10 feet from the nearest occupiable structure, (3) and that do not exceed 120 square feet in size.
d. Constructing or altering fences located more than 8 feet from an occupiable structure.
The Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code is available here. Please consult the Planning Division at 720-509-1180 with any questions concerning the application of these regulations.
1. You can locate your property’s fire intensity classification by entering your address into Lone Tree’s Interactive Zoning Map. For purposes of applying the CWRC, if any portion of your property is mapped within a designated fire intensity classification the CWRC applies to your property.
2. If no portion of your property is mapped within a low, moderate, or high fire intensity classification, the CWRC does not apply to your property, although the City does recommend that all homeowners maintain their properties in alignment with wildfire mitigation best practices.
3. If your property is mapped within a fire intensity classification, you are required to maintain your existing landscaping and trees in adherence with the CWRC (e.g. removing dead plant materials adjacent to your home); you are not required to remove existing trees or plants unless you seek to complete one of the improvement actions identified in #7 below.
4. If your property is mapped within a low fire intensity classification, the CWRC’s Class I regulations apply to your property.
5. If your property is mapped within a moderate or high fire intensity classification, the CWRC’s Class II regulations apply to your property.
6. If your property is mapped within a fire intensity classification, you are not required to complete corrective mitigation actions on your property unless you seek to complete one of more of the following improvements to your property. Completing one of these activities will apply the CWRC to the listed improvement and may require that you complete additional mitigation activities on your property (e.g. removing plants that are immediately adjacent to your home):
a. Construction of new structures.
b. Installing new landscaping and/or planting new trees, or altering existing landscaping.
c. Constructing new fences and/or retaining walls.
d. Completing an addition or alteration to an existing structure (e.g. a home) that will add/alter 500 square feet or more of the existing structure.
e. Replacing or repairing/reconstructing 25% or more of an existing roof.
f. Replacing or repairing/reconstructing 25% or more of existing exterior walls.
7. IMPORTANT: The improvement activities listed above (#7) require a permit from the City of Lone Tree. Please contact the Community Development Department at 720-509-1180 for assistance with the permit process.
8. The following improvement activities are exempt from the CWRC:
a. Interior renovations.
b. Painting or staining exterior walls, or similar wall maintenance work that does not involve removal/replacement of wall materials.
c. Alterations/repairs to detached accessory structures that are (1) one story, (2) at least 10 feet from the nearest occupiable structure, (3) and that do not exceed 120 square feet in size.
d. Constructing or altering fences located more than 8 feet from an occupiable structure.
Wildfire mitigation is an important element of keeping the Lone Tree community safe and resilient. Thank you for doing your part to reduce Lone Tree’s wildfire risk!