Douglas County’s Wildfire Mitigation Cost-Share Program helps residents and communities protect private land against the risk of wildfire. This program aims to increase the pace and scale of private wildfire mitigation efforts, overcome financial barriers to completing mitigation and build community capacity across Douglas County.
Wildfire mitigation projects will be awarded through a competitive application process. Successful projects will be awarded and contacted in the fall with the next steps. Eligible projects will focus on creating defensible space, reducing vegetation densities and disrupting the continuity of fuels in and around communities and individual properties in the wildland-urban interface. Project proposals must reflect accepted science-based mitigation best practices for the present vegetation types. Funds will be distributed following the completion of the project, certification of all work by Douglas County wildfire mitigation staff, and proof of 50% payment.
Note: Projects going through the land use process are not eligible for funding (ie. Developer-required mitigation work is ineligible for this program funding). These funds are intended for homeowners, HOAs and communities seeking to reduce their exposure to hazardous conditions in the event of a wildland fire. Douglas County will not be responsible for any damages incurred in the actual mitigation process, or any unsatisfactory outcomes that may result from contracted work. Mitigation work is not guaranteed to prevent damage or loss in the event of a wildfire, only to increase the odds of home survivability.
Before you begin the application, check to make sure you have all of the required documents. All projects must submit a MINIMUM of two detailed contractor bids from the list of approved contractors and a detailed site map. Please remember that incomplete applications will not be accepted or reviewed.
Be sure to check out our Frequently Asked Questions section below filled with helpful information about the program. If you still have questions, please reach out to us:
Here is a before and after comparison of a successful Wildfire Mitigation Cost-Sharing project. Following the removal of ladder and increasing canopy spacing, this Douglas County home has good defensible space while maintaining the rural setting and ambiance created by trees. Learn more about what you can do to protect your home.
By engaging communities to work together to reduce hazardous fuels on a larger scale the chance for property loss during a wildfire can be significantly reduced. Eligible actions under this funding program will work to increase the safety and effectiveness of first responders and promote community resilience.
Proposed projects must be within Douglas County’s WUI, owned by the applicant, and contain a wildfire hazard as determined by Douglas County wildfire mitigation staff.
Yes. Award amounts are capped at $25,000.00 for individual projects and $50,000.00 for community projects. Please note: all applicants must submit a minimum of two bids
Eligible project types include, but are not limited to:
Upon completion of the project, Douglas County Wildfire Mitigation staff will visit the property to ensure all parameters have been met. After that, the homeowner is responsible for paying the contractor their portion. Once the homeowner supplies the final invoice and proof of payment, Douglas County Finance will release the 50% match to the contractor directly.
Do not pay the contractor in full. Douglas County will make payment to the contractor, not the homeowner.
Defensible space actions must reflect Firewise® principles, CSFS standards, and mitigation best practices.
Yes. Fuel breaks must reflect accepted science-based practices for the State of Colorado including the Colorado State Forest Service Guide to Community Fuel Breaks, USFS General Technical Reports (GTR) for species present, and mitigation best practices.
Community chipping proposals require group participation in close geographic proximity, i.e. on the same street, on adjacent neighborhood streets. Applicants must apply as one entity and list the residents and property addresses that are participating in the chipping program.
The community hires a contractor for chipping or hauling if the community prefers. Material recycling is encouraged and delivered to a facility that will process material. Material may be chipped or tub ground in the neighborhood for future use as long as it is not placed immediately adjacent to a structure.
Community chipping projects are capped at a $7,500 contribution from the County.
In-kind contributions will not be considered for match. Equipment rental is not eligible either.
In order to ensure that residents get the best outcomes from their investments, only Douglas County approved contractors are eligible for this work. View the list of approved contactors here.
Applicants must submit a detailed contractor proposal, including a written narrative/scope of work supported with a map graphic. Use of the DC Maps program is encouraged. Applicants are encouraged to obtain multiple bids projects to obtain the most competitive bid. The proposed scope of work and a coordinated site visit with the applicant and contractor must take place before receiving project approval.
Approved projects will receive an award notification and next steps. Once you sign and return the award agreement, you may contact your selected contractor to begin work.
After receiving your award notification, recipients will have 10 months to complete their mitigation projects. If work has not begun Douglas County reserves the right to cancel the initial funding agreement/(contract) and withdraw the award.
Projects will be selected by Douglas County Wildfire Mitigation staff. Criteria include but are not limited to:
Yes. Douglas County expects you to make a “good-faith” effort to maintain your fuel reduction project. Over time, treated vegetation will regrow and mitigated fire risk will return. By being proactive, project parameters can be easily maintained. The use of common lawn maintenance tools is enough to keep vegetation in check. DCWM may reach out at annual to bi-annual intervals to monitor treatment effectiveness.
Any questions should be directed to [email protected].
Complete the online application on the Wildfire Mitigation Cost-Share Program page.
Please note that incomplete applications will not be accepted or reviewed.
A member of the DC wildfire mitigation staff will contact you via email once all of the applications have been reviewed. It is important that you do not begin work until after you have been contacted and have signed a contract. Any work performed before signing the contract is ineligible for funding, there will be no retroactive payments.
