Salt Lake County, UT Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

UFA has adopted the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) under the Utah State Fire Marshal framework. The WUI boundary in Salt Lake County covers the east bench foothills, canyon mouths, and Oquirrh foothills where homes meet wildland fuels. Within this boundary, owners must maintain defensible space. Zone 1 extends 30 feet from any structure. In this zone, vegetation must be kept low and green, dead plants and pine needles removed, tree branches trimmed at least 10 feet from chimneys and 6 feet from the ground, and firewood stored away from the house. Zone 2 extends from 30 to 100 feet and requires reduced fuel loading, spacing between shrub and tree canopies, and removal of ladder fuels. Roofs and gutters must be kept clear of leaves and needles, and vents should be screened with 1/8 inch metal mesh to block embers. New construction in the WUI must use ignition-resistant materials for roofing, siding, decks, and eaves under IWUIC Chapter 5. UFA and Salt Lake County Emergency Management offer free home ignition zone assessments. Failure to maintain defensible space can result in a notice of violation, mandatory abatement at owner cost, and during red flag orders may escalate to civil penalties. Homeowner insurance carriers increasingly require defensible space documentation for foothill properties.