In the foothills WUI, the Jefferson County Zoning Resolution (Sec. 39) defensible-space standards require trees near your home to be trimmed: crowns kept 5 feet from structures and 10 feet from chimneys, and branches pruned 6-10 feet up. Outside the WUI, routine tree pruning needs no county permit.
Jeffco's Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Overlay District, in Zoning Resolution Section 39, sets defensible-space vegetation standards enforced by county-approved wildfire mitigation specialists. Within Zone 1 (0-5 feet) tree crowns must be trimmed 5 feet from structures and 10 feet from chimneys, and trees 10 inches diameter or larger pruned of low-hanging branches. In Zones 2-3 branches are pruned to 6-10 feet above ground, or one-third of tree height, whichever is less. These are mitigation standards, not a general prohibition on trimming your own trees.
Non-compliant defensible space can block permits (new build, re-side, addition, STR approval) until corrected; work must pass inspection by a County-Approved Wildfire Mitigation Specialist.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Jefferson County, CO
Jefferson County requires proper care for every animal and treats hoarding-type conditions (inadequate food, water, shelter, sanitation, or feces accumulatio...
Jefferson County, CO
In Jefferson County, as statewide, it is illegal to intentionally feed big-game wildlife. Colorado Parks and Wildlife prohibits placing feed, salt, or attrac...
Jefferson County, CO
Jeffco Open Space parks are open one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Entering or occupying Open Space Lands during closed hours (unless posted ...
Jefferson County, CO
Jeffco Section 12 requires that luminaires and their supporting structure be wholly confined to the property, and it caps light measured at the property line...
Jefferson County, CO
Jeffco Section 12 requires exterior lights to be full cut-off fixtures above set brightness thresholds - all lamps in mountain areas, and lamps over roughly ...
Jefferson County, CO
Jeffco has no separate garage-sale sign category; they fall under content-neutral "Temporary Ground Signs." Up to six per property need no permit, each up to...
See how Jefferson County's tree trimming rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.