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Staff previews Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code, energy and wastewater code updates
Summary
Staff announced a March 30 public hearing to adopt the state’s Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code, summarized its effects on new construction and additions over 500 sq ft, and said the county is reviewing 2024 energy code adoption and will update OWTS rules to match state changes before June.
County staff told the commission the county will hold a public hearing on March 30 to consider adopting the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code, a state‑mandated model code.
A staff member said the model code maps hazard levels across the county and will affect new construction, additions larger than 500 square feet and new roofs, and will attach hardening requirements (fire‑resistive materials) and defensible‑space zoning around mapped areas; historic preservation overlay areas may be exempt. “This is state required adoption…what this will have an impact on is new construction, additions greater than 500 square feet, or new roofs,” the staff member said.
Staff also reported the county’s board of review is considering whether to adopt the 2024 energy code (rather than the 2021 code); staff noted the 2024 code relaxes some prescriptive prescriptive requirements and provides more room for alternative methods. Finally, staff said on‑site wastewater treatment system (OWTS) regulations will be updated to align with recent state regulatory changes before June.
Commissioners asked whether the mapping is statewide and expressed concern about potential insurance impacts in high‑hazard mapped areas; staff said it could influence construction safety and insurance risk, but said they had no data to quantify insurance effects at this time.
The commission did not adopt the codes at this meeting; staff asked the commission to note the upcoming public hearing and review draft code materials ahead of the March 30 hearing.
