Statewide Wildfire Resiliency Code for structures in Colorado takes effect July 1st

Colorado is rolling out new statewide wildfire building standards aimed at helping homes better survive future wildfires.

The 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code takes effect July first and applies to new construction, major remodels, and certain roofing projects in wildfire-prone areas known as the Wildland-Urban Interface, or WUI.

Developed by the state’s Wildfire Resiliency Code Board, the new requirements are designed to reduce the risk of homes igniting during a wildfire and to help prevent fires from spreading through neighborhoods.

The code requires builders to use fire-resistant construction materials and techniques based on the level of wildfire risk in a given area. Common requirements include Class A roofing materials, noncombustible gutters and siding, and ember-resistant vents for attics and crawl spaces.

In higher-risk zones, homes may also need tempered or fire-rated windows, enclosed eaves and soffits, tightly sealed garage doors, and decks built with ignition-resistant or noncombustible materials.

The code also addresses landscaping. New projects must include defensible space around structures, with combustible vegetation and other flammable materials reduced or removed within five feet of a home.

State officials say these standards are intended to create more wildfire-resilient communities and improve the chances that homes can withstand wind-driven embers and intense heat during a wildfire.

The new code takes effect statewide on July 1st.