Gila County, AZ has NO wildland-urban interface (WUI) building code and NO Firewise / vegetation-clearing ordinance — neither does Apache or Navajo County. Defensible space (30 ft Zone 1, 30–100 ft Zone 2) is recommended by Arizona DFFM but voluntary. Federal Stage I/II fire restrictions on Tonto National Forest land apply when issued.
Despite Gila County containing high-risk wildland-urban-interface areas around Payson, Pine, Strawberry, Tonto Basin, and Globe, the county Board of Supervisors has not adopted a WUI building code, Firewise brush-clearing ordinance, or mandatory vegetation-clearance rule. Adjacent cities like Payson have their own Firewise brush-clearance code, and Flagstaff and Prescott have stronger fire-hardened building codes — but those city rules do NOT apply in unincorporated Gila County. The Arizona Department of Forestry & Fire Management recommends a 30-foot Zone 1 of irrigated, low-flammability landscaping and a 30–100 foot Zone 2 of thinned vegetation around every structure, but this is guidance, not law. Most of Gila County is Tonto National Forest land where federal Stage I and Stage II fire restrictions (no open flame, no smoking outside vehicles, no chainsaw use outside posted hours) apply during declared periods. Open burning anywhere in the county requires an ADEQ Open Burn Permit under ARS §49-501; Gila County also adopted an access-road ordinance requiring approved roads before combustible materials can be brought onto a vacant parcel.
Federal fire restriction violations on Tonto National Forest carry up to $5,000 in fines and 6 months in jail (16 USC §551). Unlawful open burning under ARS §49-501 is a civil penalty up to $300/day. Causing a wildfire by negligence can trigger civil liability for full suppression costs, which on a large fire run into millions.
See how Gila County's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
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