Wildfire Zones: Boulder vs Longmont
How do wildfire zones rules compare between Boulder, CO and Longmont, CO?
Boulder and Longmont have similar restriction levels.
Boulder, CO
Boulder County
Boulder may have wildfire hazard zones requiring defensible space around structures, fire-resistant building materials, and vegetation management.
View full Boulder rules →Longmont, CO
Boulder County
Longmont sits on the Front Range plains at roughly 5,000 feet of elevation. Per the Colorado State Forest Service and 2022 CO-WRA (Colorado Wildfire Risk Assessment) mapping, the developed core of Longmont is not within a state-defined Wildland-Urban Interface zone, unlike the foothills west of town in Boulder County. Longmont has not adopted the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC). The city participates in upstream watershed wildfire protection through the St. Vrain Creek Watershed forest health work and supports the Spillway Knoll Project around Longmont Reservoir.
View full Longmont rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Boulder | Longmont |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | 0 to 30 feet clearance | - |
| Zone 2 | 30 to 100 feet reduced fuel | - |
| Materials | Fire-resistant may be required | - |
| Insurance | May require compliance | - |
| Elevation | - | ~5,000 ft (Front Range plains) |
| State WUI Mapping | - | Core city not in WUI (2022 CO-WRA) |
| IWUIC Adopted | - | No |
| Watershed Work | - | St. Vrain Creek / Spillway Knoll Project |
| City Wildfire Tools | - | LMC 9.32 (vegetation) + LMC 16.32 (IFC) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Boulder FAQ
How much defensible space do I need?
Typically 30 feet of lean/clean zone and 100 feet of reduced fuel zone around structures in Boulder wildfire areas.
Is my property in a wildfire zone?
Check with Boulder fire department or your state wildfire hazard map. Real estate disclosures must include wildfire zone status.
Longmont FAQ
Is Longmont in a wildfire hazard zone?
The developed core of Longmont, on the Front Range plains, is not mapped within a state-defined Wildland-Urban Interface zone per the Colorado State Forest Service 2022 CO-WRA. The foothills west of the city in unincorporated Boulder County are within WUI.
Has Longmont adopted a wildfire (WUI) building code?
No. Unlike the City of Boulder, which adopted the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code effective Aug. 1, 2025, Longmont has not adopted the IWUIC. Wildfire-related rules in Longmont come from the adopted 2021 International Fire Code (LMC Chapter 16.32) and the weed-control ordinance (LMC Chapter 9.32).
What wildfire mitigation does Longmont do?
Longmont focuses on watershed protection through forest health and fuels reduction work in the St. Vrain Creek Watershed and supports the Spillway Knoll Project around Longmont Reservoir to reduce post-fire sedimentation risk. Inside the city, burning is restricted to permitted recreational fires and bonfires.
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