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Grand County lays out WUI code schedule; approves amended plan‑review IGA with Granby
Summary
Community Development reported a local WUI map process and set a timeline to adopt the code by April 1 (enforcement July 1); the board approved an amended IGA to provide plan review services to the Town of Granby and asked staff to return with inspection and fee details within 30–45 days.
Community Development Director Chris Manguso told the Grand County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 20 that local work on the Wildland‑Urban Interface (WUI) mapping is underway and that the county plans to take the maps and related code to the planning commission in March and to the board for adoption by April 1. Manguso said enforcement of the adopted WUI code would begin July 1 and that the code changes—especially for Class 2 (higher fire‑risk) areas—will affect building requirements such as siding and defensible‑space restrictions.
Manguso said the county contacted local fire leadership and is coordinating a late‑January/early‑February meeting with the local group that produced alternative maps. He described differences between the state’s mapping and the locally created maps and said the local maps must go through the state approval process after the county acts. "We're hoping to get that done sometime in February ... take this to planning commission in March and then bring it to the board probably the week after," Manguso said.
Separately, the board approved an amended intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Town of Granby for plan review services beginning Feb. 1. Under the amended IGA, Granby will use its own cloud permit portal and perform inspections while the county will continue to charge regular plan‑review fees (Manguso cited example figures: plan review about $1,300; full building permit about $2,100). County staff said they will return within 30–45 days with a proposed fee and inspection framework to avoid an imbalance where the town relies on county inspections at no charge.
Why it matters: adoption of the WUI code changes building standards across portions of Grand County and will affect developers, builders and property owners in higher‑risk areas. The Granby agreement shifts plan‑review mechanics while the two jurisdictions align codes for the short term.
Next steps: staff will circulate the local WUI maps to commissioners for review, bring the maps to planning commission in March and present the detailed Granby inspection/fee proposal in the coming 30–45 days.
