Arapahoe County requires property owners to maintain defensible space in designated Wildland-Urban Interface zones, especially southern county areas near Cherry Creek State Park and foothills. The Marshall Fire (Dec 2021) prompted stricter Front Range enforcement. Colorado has no statewide defensible space mandate.
Arapahoe County does not have a California-style statewide brush clearance law, but WUI areas fall under local fire protection district standards. South Metro Fire Rescue (serving Centennial, Littleton, Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills Village, and unincorporated areas) and Aurora Fire Rescue enforce defensible space guidance based on the Colorado State Forest Service model. Typical requirements: Zone 1 (0-5 ft) non-combustible around structures, Zone 2 (5-30 ft) reduced vegetation and thinned trees, Zone 3 (30-100+ ft) managed fuel loads. Cherry Creek Reservoir and surrounding open space receive CPW and Arapahoe County Open Space attention. The Marshall Fire in December 2021 destroyed 1,084 homes in Boulder County and caused Front Range jurisdictions including Arapahoe County to tighten grass/weed abatement and WUI enforcement. C.R.S. §30-15-401(1.5) authorizes counties to declare vegetation a nuisance. Noxious weed abatement (C.R.S. §35-5.5-101) is enforced by the Arapahoe County Weed Control program.
Notice to abate with 10-30 day compliance deadline. County abatement at owner's expense plus administrative fee. Lien placed on property if unpaid. Repeat: $500 to $1,000 under county nuisance code.
Arapahoe County, CO
Arapahoe County regulates amplified music through the general noise ordinance and C.R.S. §18-9-106 disturbing the peace. Sound amplification permits are requ...
Arapahoe County, CO
Arapahoe County has no leaf blower-specific ordinance. Operation must comply with general noise limits under C.R.S. §25-12-103 and county noise rules. Gas-po...
Arapahoe County, CO
Arapahoe County Land Development Code §5-2 regulates fence materials by zoning district. Wood, vinyl, wrought iron, chain-link, and tubular steel are general...
Arapahoe County, CO
Arapahoe County permits backyard chickens in most residential zones under the Land Development Code. Unincorporated areas allow up to 6-8 hens with no rooste...
Arapahoe County, CO
Arapahoe County Weed Control enforces the Colorado Noxious Weed Act (C.R.S. §35-5.5-101) through its Weed Advisory Board. Property owners must abate listed n...
Arapahoe County, CO
Aurora, Centennial, and Cherry Hills Village require replacement of permitted tree removals in public right-of-way and subdivisions. Replacement ratios 1:1 t...
See how Arapahoe County's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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