City officials have recommended against allowing raised garden beds or other vegetation within the recently mandated five-foot noncombustible zone around new buildings in Boulder’s wildland-urban interface. The buffer zone is a key part of the city’s new wildfire safety rules, designed to reduce the risk of flames spreading from house to house in fire-prone areas.
But some councilmembers have raised equity concerns about the rules. Residents in denser neighborhoods with small yards may be disproportionately affected by the restriction, as they would have limited or no space left to grow food.
A recent staff memo said officials consulted the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, which found that no research supports allowing vegetation, including gardens, in the noncombustible zone.
At a meeting last week, councilmembers asked city officials whether exceptions could be made for potted plants on decks. Current city rules are unclear on whether such plants would be allowed.
“I do think we should specify a rule on this so it’s clear, whatever that rule is,” Councilmember Ryan Schuchard said.
Mayor Aaron Brockett, who lives in North Boulder’s Holiday neighborhood, said he was interested in allowing raised beds near homes. Under current rules, landscaping between five and 30 feet from a new or remodeled home is restricted to low-flammability plants in the highest-risk areas of the WUI.
“In my neighborhood, people do a lot of raised beds that don’t seem like a fire danger and provide … veggies for people to eat. So hopefully we can allow that,” Brockett said.
The discussion highlighted the city’s challenge in balancing wildfire safety with quality-of-life concerns. But city officials indicated enforcement would not focus much on vegetables.
“If I were to be very frank about this, I mean we have a lot bigger issues than spinach growing on a balcony,” David Lowrey, chief fire marshal with Boulder Fire-Rescue, told councilmembers last week. “I’m not overly concerned about potted plants, regardless of what’s growing in them, and the risk they pose compared to wood fences and the landscaping.”
City officials plan to return to the council in October 2025 for a public hearing on a proposed ordinance updating landscaping rules to conserve water and reduce wildfire risk.
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