Overview
House Bill 48 (HB 48), titled “Wildland Urban Interface Modifications”, was passed during the 2025 General Legislative Session in Utah. HB 48’s primary intent is to increase awareness of wildfire risk and encourage property owners to share the responsibility of reducing that risk in the wildland urban interface (“WUI”). Under this bill, property owners in the high-risk WUI may request lot assessments to develop personalized risk mitigation strategies. A property fee will help support these assessments.
Insurance availability and affordability are concerns for property owners in Utah, and many are already experiencing increased premiums or losing coverage as insurers respond to wildfire risk. This bill mandates that property insurers use the State’s high-risk WUI boundary when determining a property’s wildfire risk. If an insurer raises rates by 20% or more, or drops coverage due to wildfire risk, it must provide notice and justification based on the facts underlying the decision, if requested by the property owner.
Counties and municipalities that participate in the Cooperative Wildfire System (“CWS”) are now required to adopt and enforce Utah’s WUI code under this bill, which addresses vegetation management around structures and ignition-resistant new construction in wildfire-risk areas.
General Questions
Why was HB 48 introduced?
Due to the increasing frequency, severity, and types of wildfires, along with implications for property owners’ wildfire insurance eligibility, HB 48 was created to increase awareness of wildfire risk in the WUI and to address shared responsibility with property owners regarding defensible space and home hardening.
Why was HB 48 introduced?
Due to the increasing frequency, severity, and types of wildfires, along with implications for property owners’ wildfire insurance eligibility, HB 48 was created to increase awareness of wildfire risk in the WUI and to address shared responsibility with property owners regarding defensible space and home hardening.
When did HB 48 become law?
March 3, 2025.
When does it take effect?
January 1, 2026.
Who can I contact with questions?
Contact the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands.
High-Risk WUI
House Bill 48 requires the Division to create a High-Risk Wildland-Urban Interface boundary map. The map is available at wildfirerisk.utah.gov
What is the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)?
The WUI is the zone where structures and other human development meet, or intermingles with, undeveloped wildland. These zones are more susceptible to wildfire damage and require specific safety measures and mitigation strategies. Counties and municipalities map the WUI to enforce the Utah WUI Code.
What is the High Risk WUI?
The High Risk WUI is where structures are at the highest risk of being affected by a wildfire and considers:
- Proximity to wildland vegetation
- Wildfire likelihood and intensity of potential wildfire in the area
- Ember travel risk
- Distance to other structures
The Division maps the High Risk WUI to assess risk to dwellings within the high-risk wildland-urban interface area.
How did the Division develop the High Risk WUI map?
- The new “high-risk” WUI map was developed by a firm that brought international expertise in wildland fire behavior and risk analysis.
- The map calculates risk by looking at severity x probability x exposure, whereas fire behavior is quantified as fuels x weather x topography. Ember production from these fuels is a key component of assigning an exposure score.
- These risk models, combined with structure density, helped define the high-risk WUI area.
For a full technical breakdown, see the High Risk WUI Storymap.
How can I find out if my property is in the High Risk WUI?
You can search for your address on the publicly available High Risk WUI Properties map in the Utah Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal.
If I reduce my wildfire risk, can I be removed from the High Risk WUI?
The High Risk WUI is based on broader landscape factors. Improvements to individual lots generally do not affect the larger-scale high-risk WUI. If the entire community changed the fuelscape enough, it’s possible for that community’s risk to lower enough to no longer be in the high-risk WUI.
What buildings are included?
All taxable structures within the high-risk WUI boundary.
How was the map created?
The map is derived from a combination of analytical inputs, including satellite imagery, slope and aspect data (topography), detailed vegetation type and fuelscape maps, weather, fire occurrence, ember loading, housing density metrics and buffers around existing structures.
How often will the map be updated?
Annually
Who uses the High Risk WUI Properties map?
- Property owners can access the map to determine if they live within the boundary.
- Counties utilize the map to determine which properties will be assessed a fee.
- Insurance companies are required to use the map to identify where the bill’s requirements of them apply, such as labelling a property “high risk WUI”.
How is the WUI zone different from the High Risk WUI Properties map?
- The WUI zone is identified by the county or municipality and maps a larger area to cover any current or future development that might be affected by wildfire. This is where they will enforce the WUI code.
- The High Risk WUI Properties map is created by the state to identify the highest risk to existing structures. This is the map used by insurers and where the fee will be assessed.
- For a full breakdown, see this chart: WUI Zone vs. high risk WUI Boundary
What is the Utah WUI Code?
Fire safety building and landscaping standards for WUI areas. Must be adopted and enforced by cities/counties by Jan 1, 2026.
Fees
House Bill 48 requires the Division to assess a fee on all structures within the High Risk Wildland Urban Interface boundary.
What is the fee?
- 2026–2027: $20 to $100 flat fee per structure, based on square footage of taxable structures on the property
- 2028 onward: Fee based on triage assessment and square footage of taxable structures.
Will I be charged a fee?
Only if the taxable structure is within the High Risk WUI boundary.
How is the fee determined?
Fees are assessed per the taxable square footage of the structure in question, so the smaller the structure the lower the fee. Additionally, starting in 2028, fees will be tiered based on the triage score assigned to the property by a certified lot assessment. As the property owner reduces their wildfire risk, the fee may be reduced.
Can I appeal the fee?
Yes. The appeals process will be defined in administrative rules.
How can homeowners reduce their fees?
- Request and receive a certified lot assessment
- Complete some or all of the recommended actions specified in their lot assessment
- Contact the Division to have property improvements verified.
Can a property owner in the High Risk WUI completely eliminate their fee by reducing their risk?
No, if the structure is in the High Risk WUI there will always be a fee. But the owner can reduce the fee amount by completing the work outlined in the lot assessment.
What is the fee used for?
It will cover the costs of implementing this law, primarily the costs associated with performing lot assessments.
Who sets the fee and collects it?
The Division sets the fees annually, counties then collect fees from property owners and passes the fees on to be deposited into the Utah Wildfire Fund.
Will the fee cover wildfire suppression costs?
No. Refer to the “What is the fee used for?” question.
Lot Assessments
House Bill 48 requires the Division to offer lot assessments for all properties within the High Risk Wildland Urban Interface.
When can I receive a lot assessment?
The Division is still developing the High Risk WUI lot assessment program, and expects to have it ready by late spring 2026.
How do I request a lot assessment?
Until the assessment program is operational, you can be put on a waitlist using the contact form at the bottom of this page.
Who is authorized to do a High Risk WUI lot assessment?
Division-certified lot assessors. The Division is developing training standards and certification procedures and will ensure that all certified lot assessors adhere to the same standards and procedures throughout the state.
Will someone come to my property uninvited?
No. Lot assessors can only come if requested by the property owner.
What does the High Risk WUI lot assessment cost?
The lot assessment costs are borne by the annual fees across the state, certified lot assessments are available at no additional cost for property owners.
Why should I get a lot assessment?
For three reasons:
- To know what specific actions you can take on your property to reduce your wildfire risk, and
- To potentially reduce your triage score and fee.
- To potentially provide official documentation of reduced individual property wildfire risk for more favorable treatment by insurers.
What is a triage score?
A wildfire risk score based on the Utah Wildland Urban Interface Code. The triage score is used to determine the High Risk WUI fee based on two areas of risk:
- Vegetation within the defensible space area of the structure
- Construction elements that impact structure survivability during a wildfire
What are the criteria of the triage scores?
There are three levels of risk:
- Classification III (extreme risk) – the structure and vegetation do not meet the defensible space or ignition resistant construction requirements in the Utah WUI Code.
- Classification II (very high risk) – either the structure or the vegetation meet the code, but not both.
- Classification I (high risk) – both the structure and vegetation meet the requirements of the Utah WUI code.
What will happen if the property owner doesn’t comply with the recommended improvements?
The Division does not penalize property owners who choose not to follow the recommended actions from the lot assessments. However, if the property is within the county or municipal WUI zone, it will be subject to local enforcement of the WUI code.
I had an assessment done before. Can I use it?
Lot assessments completed outside of the certified High Risk WUI program will not count toward fee reduction. But they can be a great way to gain insight into recommended actions to reduce wildfire risk in anticipation of the certified assessment.
Can I opt out of the assessment?
Yes. However, you will be charged the highest fee and considered to be at the highest risk. Alternatively, you may hire a private assessor who is certified by the Division. Assessments are not legally required.
Is training available before the 2026 deadline?
National Fire Protection Association Firewise USA and Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety Wildfire Prepared Home offer guidance but official standards and training are under development.
Can fire departments be certified to perform lot assessments?
Yes, once standards are finalized and training program developed by the Division, they may be trained and certified to perform lot assessments.
Insurance
House Bill 48 requires insurance carriers to increase transparency and align with the state on defining High Risk WUI.
How does this benefit insurance consumers?
Mitigating wildfire risk may improve the insurability of a property
How will this affect insurance companies?
- Insurers must use the Division’s new high risk WUI Boundary when labelling a structure “High Risk” for wildfire
- Insurers are not restricted from using other data sources to measure risk
- If requested by the property owner, insurers must disclose their rationale to property owners when premiums rise >20% or when coverage is discontinued due to risks of wildfire
- The Division must share the triage level determined from lot assessments with insurers
Will this map make my insurance company drop me?
HB 48 is intended to do the opposite and help property owners retain their insurance coverage, in part by ensuring their property is fairly classified and in part by identifying mitigatable risks and actions to reduce them. Some insurers use national risk measures that label broad swaths of Utah as “high risk” for wildfire. The new High Risk WUI boundary created by the Division addresses wildfire risk specific to Utah and applies that label with greater accuracy based on current risk modeling. While Utah doesn’t mandate insurers to cover particular properties, this bill requires insurers to follow the Division’s High Risk WUI boundary map, ensuring the state and insurers agree on which properties are labelled as “High Risk WUI”. This ensures that insurance companies won’t incorrectly assume a house is in a high-risk zone when deciding whether to insure it and how much to charge.
What recourse do property owners have if they’re dropped by their insurance?
- Ask the insurer to provide precise reasons for its decision. You may find that the insurer’s decision was based on incorrect information. Or you may find that making fire-wise changes to your property will convince the insurer to provide coverage.
- If the insurer hasn’t followed the map or new transparency rules, property owners may contact the Utah Insurance Department to report the issue.
- The Utah Insurance Department will then investigate and require the company to prove its compliance with the law.
- Property owners can shop around for other coverage. Be willing to make fire-wise improvements to your property. In the Insurance Department’s experience, it’s more likely than not that another insurer will accept your application (but probably at a higher cost).
Why are triage scores shared with insurers?
To demonstrate the mitigation work completed by a property owner and provide more accurate information to determine coverage based on risk.
Can the Insurance Department require insurers to provide coverage or put a cap on insurance premiums?
No. The Department does not have this authority. It would be unwise to take these actions because some insurers may decide to stop doing business in Utah, as they have done in some other states. Fewer insurers operating in our market would reduce consumer choice and competition.
Homeowner Preparedness Checklist
Steps property owners can take to be better prepared for wildfire.
Assess Your Risk
- Check your risk at the Utah Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal
- Visit Firewise USA and/or Wildfire Prepared Home for homeowner mitigation steps
Protect Your Home
- Use fire-resistant materials
- Create defensible space
- Maintain roofs, gutters, and landscape
Lower Your Costs
- Complete mitigation recommendations
- Keep triage score low
- Review insurance annually
Stay Ready
- Make an evacuation plan
- Sign up for alerts
- Attend fire safety events
State & Local Implementation
The State, counties and municipalities all have new responsibilities under HB 48.
Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands
- Creates the high-risk WUI map
- Sets the fees for structures in the high-risk WUI
- Sets triage standards for lot assessments
- Develops administrative rules
- Maintains the UWRAP portal and database, where the high-risk boundary will be viewable once finalized, effective January 1, 2026.
- Conducts lot assessments as requested by property owners
Counties
- Collect fees based on a statewide assessment of high-risk WUI properties.
- Adopt/enforce the WUI Code
- Define and map local WUI zones
- May conduct lot assessments as agreed with the state
- Participate in CWS if there is a high-risk WUI in the county
Cities
- Adopt/enforce the WUI Code if participating in CWS
- Define and map local WUI zones in coordination with counties
HB 48 Public Meetings
Throughout November, the division hosted three public information meetings related to HB48. Members of the public were able to attend and get their questions answered regarding the impacts of this legislation. If you were not able to participate in any of the open house events, you can still view the presentation and informational materials below.
HB 48 Presentation
- Presentation (PDF)
- Watch on Youtube (Video)
Information Boards
Additional FAQs
Who pays for home mitigation or hardening?
The homeowner. Grants may be available in the future.
Is there a grant program in HB 48 to assist property owners?
No, not currently.
How will homeowners be informed?
Through public outreach, a dedicated website (in development), and local governments.
Will this law apply to federal and state land?
No, this only applies to private landowners.
Are Fire Districts responsible for informing councils?
Yes. Districts should engage with city councils to ensure WUI Code adoption by Jan 1, 2026.
Is there funding to assist counties and municipalities to implement this law?
Depends on the specific action:
- For adopting and enforcing the WUI code, including drawing their WUI boundary, no, that is part of their basic responsibility under this new law.
- For counties assisting with lot assessments, yes, their costs may be covered by the fees collected after entering into an agreement with the Division.