Brush Clearance: Colorado Springs vs Manitou Springs
How do brush clearance rules compare between Colorado Springs, CO and Manitou Springs, CO?
Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs have similar restriction levels.
Colorado Springs, CO
El Paso County
Colorado Springs imposes strict defensible space requirements under the Wildfire Mitigation Program, mandating 30 to 100 feet of vegetation management around structures in designated Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) zones. Zone 1 (0 to 5 feet) must be non-combustible, Zone 2 (5 to 30 feet) must have thinned and limbed vegetation, and Zone 3 (30 to 100 feet or to property line) requires reduced fuel loads.
View full Colorado Springs rules →Manitou Springs, CO
El Paso County
El Paso County requires defensible space under the El Paso County Wildland-Urban Interface Ordinance. After the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire (346 homes) and 2013 Black Forest Fire (509 homes — the most destructive in CO history at the time), the county adopted WUI Code mandating 100-foot defensible space and ignition-resistant construction in designated hazard zones.
View full Manitou Springs rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Colorado Springs | Manitou Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 (0-5 ft) | Non-combustible, no wood mulch | - |
| Zone 2 (5-30 ft) | Thinned and limbed trees | - |
| Zone 3 (30-100 ft) | Reduced fuel loads | - |
| Free Service | CSFD curbside chipping | - |
| Context | Waldo Canyon 2012, Black Forest 2013 | Black Forest Fire 2013 |
| Zone 1 | - | 0-5 ft non-combustible |
| Zone 3 | - | 30-100 ft thinned |
| Code | - | 2018 IWUIC adopted |
| Free Assessment | - | EPSO Wildland Crew |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Colorado Springs FAQ
Is defensible space required for all Colorado Springs homes?
Mandatory enforcement focuses on WUI-designated foothill neighborhoods (Mountain Shadows, Skyway, Broadmoor Bluffs, Cedar Heights, Rockrimmon). All homes benefit from the standards and CSFD offers free assessments citywide.
Can I keep my pine trees near my Colorado Springs home?
Yes, but they must be properly spaced, limbed up to 10 feet, and kept clear of the roof and eaves. Wood mulch within 5 feet of the home is prohibited under Zone 1 rules after Waldo Canyon lessons.
Manitou Springs FAQ
Is defensible space mandatory in Black Forest?
Yes. Black Forest is a designated Very High Hazard WUI zone. Property owners must maintain 100-foot defensible space per the El Paso County Land Development Code, with stricter standards in Extreme zones like Cedar Heights.
Who inspects defensible space?
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office Wildland Fire Crew offers free voluntary Home Ignition Zone assessments. Mandatory inspections occur during building permit reviews and after Firewise community renewals.
Compare other topics
See how Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool