Garfield County adopts state Wildland Urban Interface code and state risk maps, sets fees for wildfire risk

Garfield County commissioners voted to adopt an ordinance that brings the county into alignment with the Utah Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Code and adopts the official WUI risk maps produced by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.

The ordinance, read aloud by a county staff member and introduced as Ordinance 2025-4, amends the county’s existing WUI rules (originally adopted in 2006) to comply with House Bill 48 passed by the Utah Legislature. The stated purpose is “to reduce the risk of loss of life and property from wildland fire” and to establish consistent standards for construction, access and vegetation management in areas the state classifies as having elevated wildfire risk.

Under the ordinance the county will adopt the state’s WUI code and the state-published risk maps by reference; the state map will be the controlling version and will be made available through the Garfield County GIS system. The ordinance lists enforcement remedies and names county enforcement authorities (the county fire marshal and the building official) as responsible for administering code compliance; violations may lead to work orders, permit revocation or civil penalties.

Commission discussion focused on what the map and the fee program mean for private property owners. A staff speaker said the state will require counties to collect a square-footage-based fee beginning in 2026 and that “risk-based fees” tiered by certified lot assessments will begin in 2028. The speaker gave a preliminary fee range for properties in the high-risk areas of about $20 to $100 and said property owners may obtain certified lot assessments to reduce their fee, but that owners who decline an assessment would be charged the maximum fee.

Several commissioners raised practical concerns: some cabin owners may be unable to perform the vegetation work the state’s requirements contemplate because of federal restrictions or private covenants, and commissioners warned that insurance companies could use the map to alter eligibility or rates. One commissioner said insurers will be required to provide detailed reasoning if they deny coverage. Another commissioner urged that counties and local mayors be given a chance to meet with map authors and have county input written into state contracting or guidance.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to adopt the ordinance; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The ordinance will take effect upon publication and be incorporated into the Garfield County Code.

What happens next: county staff said the county will participate in the state-administered wildfire risk assessment program and will implement administrative procedures to support fee assessment, mitigation verification and appeals. The county also discussed outreach options and pointed members and the public to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands website (fsfsl.utah.gov) and the House Bill 48 FAQ for more information.