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San Miguel County adopts wildfire-resiliency code updates; commissioners strengthen language on utilities and hazard definition
Summary
The BOCC adopted amendments aligning county code with the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code and added requirements for subdivision design, vegetation plans, and strongly encouraged burial of utility service lines for new and existing development where feasible; the board edited the wildfire-hazard definition for clarity and passed Resolution 2026-31 unanimously.
Planning Director Kay Simonson presented a comprehensive amendment to County Code Section 5-406 designed to align local requirements with the state's Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code. The draft replaces older development standards with references to the state code and adds design-level expectations for subdivisions, PUDs and special-use permits so fire resilience is addressed at the land-development stage rather than only at building-permit review.
Commissioners focused much of the discussion on utility lines and the definition of "wildfire hazard." Simonson said burial of power and phone lines is recommended but not always technically feasible; commissioners asked for stronger language that would require burial in new subdivisions and "where feasible" for other development. Commissioners also agreed to revise the definition of wildfire hazard to read along the lines of "the potential for a wildfire to adversely impact past, current, or foreseeable construction or land use." The board opened public comment (Mr. Tooley urged pragmatic, professional judgment) and then adopted Resolution 2026-31 with the agreed edits. "It's strongly encouraged, but that was why I wrote it that way is, new subdivisions, absolutely, you gotta bury it," Simonson said during the debate; commissioners added conditions to clarify applicability and exceptions.
