Historic-preservation exemption and ground-truthing options explained for wildfire code

Mr. White outlined the code’s historic-preservation exemption, saying it applies to repair or rehabilitation of contributing historic structures and that "exemption is the minimum necessary to preserve the historical character." He noted the exemption is important in Castle Rock because many local historic buildings could otherwise be forced to alter defining features such as single-pane windows.

Mr. White also described a ground-truthing process: a qualified wildfire professional can evaluate a property’s fire-intensity rating and submit the assessment to the fire department for review and potential adjustment. He said that process gives property owners a path to challenge or refine mapped classifications at a lot level.