What is the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code?

It's a 2025 model code that sets wildfire-hardening standards for homes in wildfire-prone areas — covering roofs, vents, siding, decks, and the space immediately around the home. How and when it applies depends on your local jurisdiction adopting and enforcing it, so always verify with your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

What is the 25% roof rule?

As the code is written, replacing 25% or more of a roof — or an exterior wall — can trigger the wildfire-hardening standards for that assembly, not just a like-for-like repair. Other triggers include new construction and larger additions or alterations. Confirm the exact thresholds that apply to your project with your AHJ.

What are the intensity tiers and hardening classes?

The code scales requirements to wildfire exposure — commonly described as Low, Moderate, and High intensity — with two hardening levels, Class 1 and Class 2. Higher intensity generally means the more stringent class. Where your parcel falls depends on the state WUI map and your jurisdiction.

Could the standards change?

Yes. Wildfire code is an active area of Colorado policy — HB26-1334 is a live variable that may modify the standards or their adoption. Treat anything here as editorial and confirm the current requirements with your AHJ before you plan work.

How does this connect to my roof replacement?

If a storm or age has you replacing a big share of your roof, that's exactly the moment the code can apply — and the moment to build back to a wildfire-hardened, and ideally FORTIFIED, standard. A Fire Resiliency Inspection scopes both at once.

Colorado Wildfire Resiliency

Replace 25% of your roof, and the code changes.

Colorado's 2025 Wildfire Resiliency Code can pull a whole roof or wall assembly up to a hardened standard once you replace enough of it. Here's what triggers it — and why to confirm the specifics with your jurisdiction.

Check Your Home's Wildfire Risk See FORTIFIED roofing

A note before we start: wildfire code adoption and enforcement happen at the locallevel, and the standards are still evolving (HB26-1334 may modify them). Treat this page as editorial — a plain- English map of what we’re seeing — and confirm what actually applies to your project with your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

What triggers the code?

You don’t have to be building new to fall under it. As the code is written, the wildfire-hardening standards can attach when you cross certain thresholds — and a re-roof is a common one.

New construction. A new home is built to the standard from the start.
Additions or alterations over ~500 sq ft. Larger projects can bring the affected areas up to code.
Replacing 25%+ of a roof or exterior wall. The “25% rule” — cross the threshold on an assembly and it can be required to meet the hardened standard, not just match what was there.

Thresholds and how they’re measured vary by jurisdiction — confirm yours with your AHJ before you scope work.

Intensity tiers and hardening classes

The code scales what it asks for to how exposed your home is. Exposure is commonly described in three tiers, paired with two hardening levels:

Low intensityClass 1 hardening

Baseline wildfire-resistant details on the most exposed components.

Moderate intensityClass 1–2 hardening

Tighter requirements across the roof, vents, and near-home zone.

High intensityClass 2 hardening

The most stringent assembly and defensible-space requirements.

Which tier applies depends on the state WUI map and your jurisdiction — our assessment confirms where your parcel actually lands.

Planning a re-roof? Scope the code before you buy materials.

A Fire Resiliency Inspection tells you whether the 25% rule applies to your project and what hardening class your parcel needs — before the tear-off starts.

Book a Home Hardening Assessment

How does this connect to your roof?

A hail or wind event that has you replacing most of your roof is exactly when the code can kick in — and the best moment to build back stronger. Pairing wildfire hardening with a FORTIFIED re-roof means one project answers both wildfire and wind/hail exposure. If a claim is involved, our insurance experts help make sure the scope reflects code-required upgrades.

Common questions

What is the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code?: It's a 2025 model code that sets wildfire-hardening standards for homes in wildfire-prone areas — covering roofs, vents, siding, decks, and the space immediately around the home. How and when it applies depends on your local jurisdiction adopting and enforcing it, so always verify with your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
What is the 25% roof rule?: As the code is written, replacing 25% or more of a roof — or an exterior wall — can trigger the wildfire-hardening standards for that assembly, not just a like-for-like repair. Other triggers include new construction and larger additions or alterations. Confirm the exact thresholds that apply to your project with your AHJ.
What are the intensity tiers and hardening classes?: The code scales requirements to wildfire exposure — commonly described as Low, Moderate, and High intensity — with two hardening levels, Class 1 and Class 2. Higher intensity generally means the more stringent class. Where your parcel falls depends on the state WUI map and your jurisdiction.
Could the standards change?: Yes. Wildfire code is an active area of Colorado policy — HB26-1334 is a live variable that may modify the standards or their adoption. Treat anything here as editorial and confirm the current requirements with your AHJ before you plan work.
How does this connect to my roof replacement?: If a storm or age has you replacing a big share of your roof, that's exactly the moment the code can apply — and the moment to build back to a wildfire-hardened, and ideally FORTIFIED, standard. A Fire Resiliency Inspection scopes both at once.

Keep going

This page is general information, not legal or code advice. Wildfire code adoption, thresholds, and requirements vary by jurisdiction and may change, including through pending legislation such as HB26-1334. Always confirm what applies to your property and project with your Authority Having Jurisdiction before planning or purchasing work.