The Wildfire Resiliency Code (WRC) will apply to the areas shown in yellow, orange, or red on the map below, which includes fewer than 500 properties in Lakewood.

This map was developed by the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) and the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) to show the potential Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), which is defined as the geographic areas where human development and wildland vegetation meet, creating higher exposure to embers, radiant heat, and direct flames. It shows the Fire Intensity Classification based on the 2022 Colorado Wildfire Risk Assessment, and includes data about vegetation, topography, and weather conditions such as wind to give an indication of how intense a wildfire may be if one occurs.

• Fire Intensity Classification:
  • Yellow - Low Intensity (corresponds to Class 1 standards in the WRC)
  • Orange - Moderate Intensity (corresponds to Class 2 standards in the WRC)
  • Red - High Intensity, none in Lakewood (corresponds to Class 2 standards in the WRC)

Use the State's GIS map to explore specific locations within Lakewood and across the state: 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code Map

The Wildfire Resiliency Code (WRC) only applies to properties located within the designated areas on the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code Map. This includes fewer than 500 properties in Lakewood. Additionally, the WRC is not retroactive, meaning that the subject properties do not have to meet the WRC standards unless they are doing exterior modifications that are covered in the code, as summarized below. See the full applicability in Chapter 2 of the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code.

Will apply:

• Construction of all new residential and commercial buildings.
• Construction of building additions greater than 500 sq ft.
• Construction of new decks or balconies of any size.
• Significant exterior renovations:
  • Replacement of 25% or more of surface area of the roof.
  • Replacement of 25% or more of the surface area of exterior walls.
• Fence replacement or construction of new fences closer than 8 ft from a structure.
• Retaining wall replacement or construction of new retaining walls.

Will NOT apply:

• Existing conditions of existing structures
• Interior remodeling projects
• Replacement of roofs or siding less than 25% of the total area.
• Painting, staining and similar maintenance.
• Tool sheds, storage sheds, and similar uses less than 120 sq ft.
• Fences more than 8 ft from a structure.

"Structure Hardening" refers to making physical modifications to a building or structure using fire-resistant materials and construction methods to better protect it from heat and flying embers. This page excerpted from the Jefferson County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) 2024 Update demonstrates examples of the types of improvements that can be made to make homes and properties more resilient to wildfires. The specific requirements for structure hardening can be found in Chapter 4 of the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code.

According to the Colorado State Forest Service, "Defensible Space" refers to the area around a home or other structure that has been modified to reduce fire hazards. In this area, natural and manmade fuels are treated, cleared or reduced to slow the spread of wildfire. Defensible space reduces the likelihood of a structure igniting by direct contact with flame or by exposure to the radiant heat of a fire, and helps limit the production of embers that can spread the fire to neighboring homes and vegetation.

Creating defensible space involves establishing series of management zones around a building or other structure, also referred to as Home or Structure Ignition Zones (HIZ or SIZ).

The three defensible space zones are defined by their distance away from a structure:

• Zone 1 (0 to 5 feet): Immediate Zone
  • The area nearest the home and other structures. It requires the most vigilant work to reduce wildfire hazards.
• Zone 2 (5 to 30 feet): Intermediate Zone
  • The area transitioning away from the home, where fuels should be reduced to slow down an approaching fire.
• Zone 3 (30 to 100 feet): Expanded Zone
  • The area farthest from the home. It extends to 100 feet from the home on relatively flat ground.

The specific Site and Area Requirements can be found in Chapter 5 of the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code.

The following graphics demonstrate how the Wildfire Resiliency Code will apply to an example existing property in six different development scenarios. Each graphic shows the proposed scope of work for the house, the Defensible Space zones around the house, and the areas which will require the removal of vegetation and pruning. For all scenarios, the proposed work will have to meet the Structure Hardening requirements for the type of work being done.

City Council tabled at its April 27 meeting a decision on the ordinance for the Wildfire Resiliency Code. As a result, there will be an additional public hearing at the May 11 meeting. Please visit LakewoodSpeaks.org to provide public comment and participate in the process before City Council. The agenda for the May 11 meeting has been published on LakewoodSpeaks.org, and online public comment is open.

We've started work on Wildland Fire Resiliency, and we need your feedback and thoughts on this project. You can participate in a number of ways, starting with the first quick poll. Stay tuned to the project site because we'll launch a new quick poll each week in the coming weeks. In the meantime, check out all the other resources on the page.