Denver is largely urban so WUI brush-clearance rules apply mainly to properties near open space, South Platte River corridors, and mountain parks. DRMC Chapter 24 (Weeds) and the Denver Fire Code (DRMC Chapter 9) require removal of combustible vegetation and dry grass exceeding 10 inches tall.
Denver's fire code (DRMC Chapter 9, adopting the International Fire Code with amendments) empowers the Denver Fire Department (DFD) to order removal of combustible vegetation constituting a fire hazard. DRMC §24-101 (weed ordinance) requires property owners to keep weeds and grass below 10 inches. Properties adjacent to Denver Mountain Parks (Red Rocks, Genesee, Lookout Mountain) and areas near the South Platte River and Bear Creek corridors receive additional scrutiny during fire season. Colorado does not have a statewide defensible-space mandate like California's PRC §4291, but DFD coordinates with CO Department of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) on Front Range WUI guidance. After the Marshall Fire (December 2021) in Boulder County destroyed 1,084 homes, Front Range enforcement tightened. Denver's Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) inspects complaints. Tall-grass abatement notices typically give 10 days to comply before the city mows at owner expense.
Weed/vegetation notice: 10-day compliance window. City abatement billed to owner at $200 to $1,000+ plus administrative fee. DRMC §24-101 violation: up to $999 fine. Fire code violations can be charged per day uncured.
Denver, CO
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Denver, CO
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Denver, CO
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Denver, CO
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Denver, CO
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Denver, CO
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See how Denver's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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