Commissioners ban dispersed camping at Sandstone Ranch and direct wildfire risk overlay study

The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution on July 22 prohibiting dispersed camping on Sandstone Ranch open space and directed staff to produce an overlay identifying high wildfire‑risk boundaries that could guide future dispersed‑camping restrictions on county open space.

The resolution cites authority under Colorado Revised Statutes (referenced in the meeting as “thirty‑eleven‑one 101, subparagraph 2”) and was introduced by a commissioner who framed the action as a public safety measure tied to wildfire risk. The resolution’s two operative provisions read: 1) dispersed camping is prohibited on Sandstone Ranch open space; and 2) county staff is directed to identify high wildfire‑risk boundaries to provide guidance for future dispersed camping prohibitions on county‑owned open space.

Commissioners said public safety and wildfire mitigation were their primary motivations. During debate, one commissioner proposed—and other members agreed to—a friendly amendment to add a third element directing staff to develop a citizen‑led task force to work with staff on wildfire mitigation and county camping needs. Commissioners described the resolution as a measured response to public input and recent wildfire activity and voted to adopt it unanimously. The board directed staff to evaluate wildfire risk and return overlay boundaries for future policy consideration.