Land use planning approaches in the wildland-urban interface: an analysis of four western states

This report focuses on a critical aspect of working towards
community fire adaptation: analyzing effective land use policy and regulatory solutions in the
wildland-urban interface (WUI). The WUI is any area where the built and natural environments
create a set of conditions that allow for the ignition and continued spread of wildfire. The
severity of how wildfire impacts the WUI is influenced by a number of factors, such as where
and how homes, businesses, and infrastructure are developed, weather conditions, and the
amount, type, and arrangement of vegetation.
Land use planning plays a role in these development decisions, and therefore can be an
effective means for reducing damage and losses in the WUI. State and local governments
approach WUI planning through a variety of policy and regulatory frameworks. This report
explores four western states—California, Colorado, Montana, and Washington—to better
understand each state’s approach to wildfire policy and regulation, and to identify potential
opportunities for reducing wildfire risk to communities in the future.