Larimer County outlines centralized enforcement for wildfire resiliency building code

Larimer County officials on March 23 presented a plan to centralize administration and enforcement of the county's recently adopted Wildfire Resiliency Code, saying the county will serve as the primary authority for technical plan review, site inspections and compliance oversight while partnering with local fire districts.

Amy White, the county's code compliance supervisor, told the Board of County Commissioners that the code focuses on two areas: "structure hardening," which uses fire-resistant materials and construction techniques, and "defensible space," which manages vegetation around properties. She said "of the 18 fire districts within Larimer County, 15 are mandated to adopt either the county's wildfire resiliency code or one similar by April 1st of 2026." White said Larimer County has already received six complete cooperative agreements from fire districts and plans to place the completed agreements on the March 31 consent agenda for administrative matters unless the board directs otherwise.

White argued the county is best positioned to provide consistent reviews and enforcement because many local districts "lack the manpower required for technical plan reviews and consistent enforcement," and the county already performs similar functions. "Centralized enforcement prevents a patchwork of varying standards across district lines and provides builders and homeowners with a predictable uniform process throughout the county," she said.

Chief Steve Charles of the Berthod/Be rtha Fire Protection District supported the approach and described Larimer County's decision to classify the entire unincorporated county uniformly for code application. "Larimer County has classified the entire county as one class which simplifies the code application and enforcement," he said, adding that the code is complex and that some area and site management determinations may require specialized expertise such as an arborist. He also described the Wildfire Resiliency Code as "an unfunded mandate by the state of Colorado," underscoring local coordination needs.

Commissioners asked staff how the rules would apply to repairs and remodels; White said the requirements apply to new structures and to additions that exceed 50 percent of an existing structure. Commissioners also pressed staff on outreach, noting that homeowners and small-property buyers must be made aware of potential cost implications; staff said outreach will include building-division communications, updates to the county building webpage, and direct engagement with stakeholders such as homeowners associations and the homebuilders association.

Rebecca Everett, community development director, said staff are allowing a short grace period for implementation while outreach continues, and that the county plans to be proactive rather than punitive during initial enforcement. "We already have a plan in place," she said, describing ongoing coordination with fire districts and other stakeholders.

Next steps: staff will continue securing cooperative agreements with fire districts and, unless the board directs otherwise, will place completed agreements on the March 31 consent agenda. Staff will also develop outreach materials and coordinate which county office will lead homeowner and contractor communications.

Authorities referenced in the discussion include the county's adopted Wildfire Resiliency Code (adopted September 2025) and state-level implementation deadlines mentioned by staff. The board did not take a formal vote during this work session; staff sought direction and confirmed proposed administrative scheduling for cooperative agreements.