WHAT

Regulations, Policies, Plans

Regulations, policies and plans can enable the changes we need to live more safely with wildfire or constrict our decision space. As we work to co-manage fire, actions we take with respect to policy can provide foundational opportunities to help support community fire adaptation.

Whether you are working toward your first Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) or updating an older one, creating opportunities for collaborative fire planning or developing a wildland-urban interface code, actions in this sphere can help your community improve its wildfire resilience.

Considerations

1
Regulations, policies and plans can support fire adaptation at every scale. Determining the right scale is an essential first step. Are you working at the neighborhood scale or would it make more sense work to within the boundaries of your municipality? Consider what you are trying to accomplish and the level at which it makes the most sense (e.g., what is actionable, what is measurable, what is realistic, how much time you have).
2
Often, the process of planning is as impactful as the plan itself. Think about partners and other stakeholders. Who do you need to move this work forward? Ensure your development and planning is equitable
3
Think about what comes after the plan, policy, or regulation. Who will implement the plan? Is there funding available? What monitoring will occur? How will the regulations be enforced?

EXPLORE Regulations, Policies, Plans RESOURCES

  • WHO

  • WHERE

  • FORMAT

FAC Framework Graphic
Explore the rest of the FAC resource categories.
Found 38 Results

WAFAC’s Community Wildfire Protection Plans Toolkit

Website / Interactive Map
Washington Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network
Washington Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network (WAFAC) compiled a webpage with resources for creating Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs). The resources are applicable beyond the state of Washington. Read More

Toolkit to Integrate Health and Equity into Comprehensive Plans

Guide / Pamphlet / Handout
Sagar Shah and Brittany Wong
“American Planning Association’s Planning and Community Health (PCH) program developed this toolkit to help planners integrate health and equity considerations into their comprehensive plans. PCH advances practices that improve human environments to promote health and equity through policies, education, and place-based interventions.” Read More

Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition

Website / Interactive Map
Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition
The Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition (RVCC) works to advance policy and foster learning throughout the rural West. Issue papers, resources, and webinars can all be found on this website. Read More

Preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan: A Handbook for Wildland-Urban Interface Communities

Guide / Pamphlet / Handout
Communities Committee, National Association of Counties, National Association of State Foresters Society of American Foresters, Western Governors’ Association
“This Handbook is intended to provide communities with a concise, step-by-step guide to use in developing a CWPP. It addresses, in a straightforward manner, issues such as who to involve in developing a plan, how to convene other interested parties, what elements to consider in assessing community risks and priorities, and how to develop a... Read More

Planning the Wildland Urban Interface

Guide / Pamphlet / Handout
American Planning Association
Planning the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) offers planners an in-depth introduction to the wildland-urban interface as well as wildfire basics, challenges, trends and historical context. The material is presented the latest wildfire science and is available as a free download. Read More

Planning Framework for Protecting Commercial Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfire Events

Guide / Pamphlet / Handout
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
ASHRAE (formerly the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers) offers guidance that recommends heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and building measures to minimize occupant exposures and health impacts from smoke during wildfire and prescribed burn smoke events. Read More

Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery

Website / Interactive Map
American Planning Association
A resource from the American Planning Association to help communities navigate the post-disaster recovery process. Includes briefing papers, pre-event recovery ordinances and more. Read More

Minimum Standards for Developing Community Wildfire Protection Plans in Colorado

Agenda / Template / Tool
Colorado State Forest Services
The following are updated minimum standards and guidelines for developing Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) in Colorado. Read More

Land Use Planning Tools to Reduce Wildfire Risk

Graphic / Illustration
Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire
This interactive site provides examples of land use planning strategies and techniques that can address wildfire risk in a community. Read More

Land Use Planning Approaches in the Wildland-Urban Interface

Guide / Pamphlet / Handout
Community Wildfire Planning Center
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 potentialopportunities for reducing wildfire risk to communities in the future. Read More
Page 1 of 4
Photo Credit: Canva Creative Commons
Community Profile
Fire Adaptation in the Field
Boise, Idaho

Harris North, a development by Boise Hunter Homes outside of Boise, Idaho, incorporated fire adaptation into every element of its planning and implementation process. From initial design to marketing materials for home buyers and maintenance standards, the development weaves wildfire into its operations. Supported by a local wildland-urban interface code and the development’s own Community Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions, Harris North provides an excellent example of what is possible when building in fire-prone environments. The decision to design and plan for a wildfire adapted development from the beginning enabled Harris North to withstand an early wildfire.

Photo Credit: Courtney Smith, Unsplash