What Pleasant View Residents Need to Know

Updated: 2026

Colorado has adopted the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code, a statewide building and land management code designed to reduce the risk of wildfire damage to homes and structures. The Pleasant View Metropolitan District wants to make sure our residents have clear, accurate information about whether and how this code affects you.
Does this apply to my home?
The code only applies to properties located within designated Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas — places where homes and development meet or border wildland vegetation that can carry fire.
Most of Pleasant View is NOT in a WUI area. Our community is largely a developed, urban neighborhood. However, some properties on the edges of the district near open space, hillsides, or undeveloped land may fall within a designated WUI zone.
Jefferson County, as the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for unincorporated areas like Pleasant View, will publish official maps identifying which parcels are in WUI zones. We will link to those maps here as soon as they are available.
I'm in a WUI area — what does the code require?
Requirements are tiered by your property's Fire Intensity Classification (Low, Moderate, or High), based on the vegetation, terrain, and fire risk around your property. Here's a plain-language summary:
If you're building new or making significant changes:
 - Roofing must use Class A fire-rated materials (e.g., metal, tile, or rated asphalt shingles)
 - Exterior walls must use fire-resistant, ignition-resistant, or noncombustible materials
 - Vents (attic, crawl space) must have ember-resistant covers with openings no larger than 1/8 inch
 - Gutters and downspouts must be made of noncombustible materials
 - Decks must use fire-rated, ignition-resistant, or noncombustible materials
 - Windows and exterior doors must be tempered glass or fire-rated (for Moderate/High areas)
Defensible Space (vegetation management) is also required:
 - 0–5 feet from your home: Use gravel, rock, concrete, or bare earth. Remove all combustible mulch, shrubs, and wood debris.
 - 5–30 feet from your home: Reduce dense vegetation, space out shrubs and trees, remove dead plant material.
 - 30–100 feet from your home: Space tree canopies at least 6–10 feet apart to slow fire spread.
When does the code kick in for my existing home?
The code is not retroactive for most situations. You do NOT need to bring your existing home up to code simply because you live in a WUI area. However, the code does apply if you:
 -  Add 500 square feet or more to your home's footprint
 - Replace 25% or more of your roof surface
 - Replace 25% or more of your exterior wall surface
Smaller repairs, interior remodels, painting, and routine maintenance are exempt.
What about small sheds and outbuildings?
Small detached non-habitable structures (like tool sheds under 120 sq ft) are exempt if they are located at least 10 feet from your main home. Larger accessory structures located more than 50 feet from a habitable structure are also generally exempt.
I think my property is misclassified. What can I do?
The code includes a ground-truthing process — you can request a review of your property's fire intensity classification if you believe the map doesn't accurately reflect your site conditions. This requires documentation from a qualified wildfire professional. Contact Jefferson County for more information on that process.
Resources & Next Steps
📄 Full Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code
🗺️ WUI Maps for Jefferson County (link coming soon)
🌲 Colorado State Forest Service — Home Ignition Zone Guide
📞 PVMD Fire Department: (720) 465-7182
📧 [[email protected]]
​ Pleasant View Metropolitan District covers approximately 2.5 square miles of unincorporated Jefferson County between Golden and Lakewood. Our Fire Department is here to help residents understand these requirements and prepare their properties.

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