Estes Park board adopts wildfire resiliency code ahead of state deadline

The Estes Park Town Board voted Tuesday to approve Ordinance 12-26 adopting the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code with local amendments. The ordinance puts new wildfire-construction and site standards in place across the Estes Valley ahead of a July 1 state deadline for local adoption.

The code applies to new construction, additions or alterations larger than 500 square feet, roof work affecting more than 25% of a roof, and exterior-wall work affecting more than 25% of a wall area. Town staff said it is not retroactive and does not apply to many interior alterations, some small sheds, or some fences more than 8 feet from a structure. The requirements cover both structure hardening, such as exterior materials, and defensible-space standards around buildings.

Community Development Director Bill Brown told the board the town could make the state model code stricter, but not weaker, and said local officials chose to follow the Estes Valley hazard map already used by the fire district. Under that approach, Brown said, the entire valley falls within moderate, high or extreme wildfire hazard, with no low-hazard area, so one of the key local choices was to apply the moderate-or-higher standard valley-wide.

Brown said most of the Level 1 structure-hardening requirements were already common in local construction standards, including Class A roofs and noncombustible gutters, with vent screening among the added measures. He said the town and Estes Valley Fire Protection District recommended adoption because it would meet the state mandate, improve protection of life and property, support the comprehensive plan and potentially help with insurability.

Trustee Mark Igel questioned the financial effect of applying the same hardening standard in downtown areas as in more heavily forested parts of the valley. He said the decision could increase construction costs and lead to removal of mature trees when projects trigger the code. Brown acknowledged possible disadvantages, including longer reviews, more inspections, higher building costs and vegetation removal in some cases, but said staff believed the benefits outweighed those concerns.

During discussion, Brown said the state hazard map treats some developed areas differently because its modeling focuses on vegetation, while the fire district relied on the community wildfire protection plan map adopted by the town board in 2022. After approving the ordinance, the board moved on to a related agreement dividing enforcement duties between the town's building staff and the fire district.