To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
From: Tara Vargish, P.E., Director, Development Services
Jon White, Chief Building Official
Title
Ordinance Amending Chapter 15.20 of the Castle Rock Municipal Code, Adopting by Reference as a Primary Code the 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (Second Reading - Approved on First Reading on March 3, 2026, by a vote 7-0)
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
The Development Services Building Division and Castle Rock Fire and Life Safety Division staff have been working as a team for the last year to propose an ordinance to adopt the 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resilience Code (“CWRC” or “Code”) by reference and amend the Town of Castle Rock Municipal Code to establish wildfire mitigation standards for development within designated Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas.
The CWRC was developed and adopted by the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code Board to establish minimum statewide standards for ignition-resistant construction, defensible space, and wildfire risk reduction. State law requires local jurisdictions to adopt and enforce the Code or adopt standards that meet or exceed its requirements.
Adoption of the Code will enhance community safety, align the Town with state mandates, reduce long-term wildfire risk, and provide clear and consistent standards for builders and property owners.
Budget Impact
Administrative Costs:
Implementation will require staff training, updates to permit review procedures, potential WUI mapping updates, and public education efforts. These activities are anticipated to be managed within existing departmental budgets, with minimal additional fiscal impact.
Development Costs:
Construction costs for new development or qualifying remodels within designated WUI areas may increase modestly depending on material selection and site-specific requirements. Costs will vary by project scope and design.
Long-Term Financial Considerations:
Adoption of wildfire mitigation standards is expected to reduce future public expenditures associated with wildfire response, infrastructure repair, and disaster recovery. Enhanced resilience may also contribute to long-term economic and insurance stability within the community.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the ordinance adopting the editions of the code listed below.
• 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code
Staff is recommending this new code be “effective” July 1, 2026.
Proposed Motion
Option 1: Approval
“I move to approve this Ordinance as introduced by Title, on first reading.”
Option 2: Approval with Conditions
“I move to approve this Ordinance as introduced by Title, on first with the following conditions; (list conditions)
Option 3: Continue item to next hearing (need more information to make decision)
“I move to continue this item to the next meeting on XXXXXXX, 2026 to allow time for additional research regarding __________.” “I move to approve the as introduced by title.”
Attachments
Attachment A: Ordinance
Attachment B: 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code