Mesa County, CO Environmental Rules: Defensible Space (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LDC § 8.07(C)(1)-(2)
- Zone 1 width (under 30% slope)
- 30 feet around the structure
- Zone 1 width (over 55% slope)
- Up to 120 feet down-slope
- Zone 2 extent
- 70 feet from the structure
- Ongoing duty
- Owner must maintain space per § 8.07(C)(3)
Summary
Mesa County's Land Development Code sets a slope-based defensible space zone around new homes on wooded or brush land. Section 8.07(C)(1)(a) sizes Zone 1 from 30 feet on gentle ground up to 120 feet down-slope on steep parcels, and Zone 2 extends 70 feet out with its own thinning and dead-tree removal standards.
On parcels of land that contain an average slope of less than thirty (30) percent, Zone 1 shall consist of the thirty (30) foot area immediately surrounding the primary structure, not to extend beyond the property line. On parcels of land that contain an average slope of thirty (30) to fifty-five (55) percent, Zone 1 shall consist of the area extending forty-five (45) feet to the sides and up slope of the primary structure and sixty (60) feet down slope of the primary structure, not to extend beyond the property line. On parcels of land that contain an average slope of more than fifty-five (55) percent, Zone 1 shall consist of the area extending sixty (60) feet to the sides and up slope of the primary structure and one hundred twenty (120) feet down slope of the primary structure, not to extend beyond the property line.
Full Breakdown
07(C)(1) of the 2020 Land Development Code (amended April 23, 2024) sets defensible space as a two-zone system for any new structure on land that is predominantly woods or brush. Zone 1's dimensions scale with the site's average slope, measured from the highest to lowest elevation within 25 feet of the proposed footprint: on slopes under 30 percent it is a flat 30-foot ring around the structure; on 30-55 percent slopes it extends 45 feet to the sides and up-slope but 60 feet down-slope; on slopes over 55 percent it extends 60 feet to the sides and up-slope but 120 feet down-slope, and none of these bands may cross the property line.
Zone 1 is further split into Segment A (the five feet against the structure, stripped of vegetation and, if the home has combustible siding, closed to replanting) and Segment B (the rest of Zone 1, where trees and brush are thinned rather than cleared). 07(C)(2) adds Zone 2, running out to 70 feet from the structure, where trees must be thinned at initial construction to keep at least five feet between crowns; all dead trees must come out at construction and be removed annually after that, except that two dead trees per acre may stay as wildlife habitat.
07(C)(3) makes the property owner, lessee, or anyone maintaining the structure responsible for keeping the defensible space intact afterward, including clearing leaves, needles, and dead vegetation from roofs every year. The Mesa County Building Department confirms compliance through the development review process before a permit is issued.
Violations & Fines
A parcel that does not maintain its defensible space is an uncorrected LDC violation the County can act on under Section 11.04: withholding or revoking permits and certificates until the zones are restored, stopping work already underway, and pursuing an injunction or Colorado-law criminal or civil penalties if the owner refuses to comply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the required defensible space around a Mesa County home?
Who has to maintain defensible space after the home is built?
Does defensible space apply everywhere in the county?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mesa County
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