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.
El Paso County adopted the 2018 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) through the Land Development Code, enforced by the El Paso County Wildland Fire Crew and Regional Building Department. Defensible space requirements: Zone 1 (0-5 feet) — non-combustible surface against structures; Zone 2 (5-30 feet) — lean, clean, and green; Zone 3 (30-100 feet) — thinned vegetation with 10-foot spacing between tree crowns. Black Forest, Cedar Heights, Crystal Park, and the Pikes Peak foothills are designated Very High or Extreme hazard zones. Colorado Springs Fire Department enforces within city limits via CSFD Wildfire Mitigation Program. The county offers free Home Ignition Zone assessments through the El Paso County Sheriff's Office Wildland Fire Crew. Slash-mulch sites (Black Forest, Falcon) accept chipped material seasonally. Unlike California (PRC §4291), Colorado has no statewide mandate — El Paso's WUI ordinance is locally adopted. Post-Black Forest enforcement dramatically increased, with annual compliance inspections in Firewise-USA communities.
Notice of violation with 30-day correction window. County abatement at owner's expense ($500-$5,000+ for wooded lots). Administrative fee and property lien for non-payment. Repeat violations may block building permits.
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Manitou Springs, CO
Manitou Springs enacted a formal Noise Regulation Ordinance (No. 2817, adopted August 15, 2017), codified in Chapter 6.08 of the municipal code. The city is ...
Manitou Springs, CO
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Manitou Springs, CO
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Manitou Springs, CO
Manitou Springs has a managed parking system due to its narrow canyon-town geography and high tourist traffic. Residential permit parking zones, paid parking...
Manitou Springs, CO
Manitou Springs requires vehicles on private property to be parked in compliant areas. Given the city's limited street space, driveway usage and on-property ...
Manitou Springs, CO
RV and large vehicle parking in Manitou Springs is limited to designated areas: Hiawatha Gardens Lot, the 300–400 blocks of Manitou Avenue, and Fields Park. ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in El Paso County.
See how Manitou Springs's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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