Commissioners warn residents about potential WUI fees, note Jan. 1 ordinance deadline

Commissioners spent part of their board reports discussing a state Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) program that creates maps identifying higher-risk areas and a fee structure that will appear on tax rolls. Several speakers said the program is a state mandate passed through counties and warned residents that being inside the mapped red area could lead insurers to deny coverage or raise premiums.

Speaker 3 described the state’s approach as requiring counties to implement the program while the state provides the mapping; Speaker 6 and others said county auditors and treasury staff have raised objections. Commissioners emphasized that the county would be a pass-through for any fee collection and that the public should be informed about maps and consequences for insurance availability.

Staff and commissioners noted there is a near-term timeline to adopt a local ordinance to implement or opt in to the state program; Jamie Barnes (staff) was named as the contact to walk county staff through the process, and the board noted only one remaining meeting before the January 1 deadline to publish and adopt required materials.

Commissioners advised residents to review maps as they become available and directed staff to prepare ordinance materials if required. No specific fee amounts were adopted at the meeting; meeting participants referenced a range of $25–$100 to manage the program but said that amount would not replace insurer cost increases tied to being placed in a higher-risk zone.