Building Your Home
Each construction project permitted through the Building Division within the Wildfire Hazard Overlay District (Wildfire Hazard District Overlay Map) is subject to the adopted Wildfire Mitigation Standards.
Many homes in Douglas County have significant wildfire hazards for the same reasons they are appealing: lots of vegetation and private settings in relatively remote areas. Even the planned communities have larger lots with significant amounts of undisturbed natural vegetation left near the home site.
These attributes, while making the homes more desirable, also present risk factors that must be taken into account. The most typical tree species in Douglas County is the ponderosa pine. The most common brush-type species is the Gambel, or scrub, oak. These two species are often found living together in mixed stands that can cover many acres of continuous fuels. They also can occur as islands, or clumps, with prairie grass between the oak and pine.
Each construction project permitted through the Building Division within the Wildfire Hazard Overlay District (Wildfire Hazard District Overlay Map) is subject to the adopted Wildfire Mitigation Standards.
If your home and other structures intermingle with wildland vegetation, you are at risk of being affected by wildfire.
When considering new construction or updating current home construction, residents can make choices to improve the survivability of your home during a wildland fire. Risk reduction is every resident’s responsibility.
Douglas County’s Wildfire Mitigation Cost-Sharing Program will help residents and communities mitigate 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.
Leaders from the wildfire suppression, mitigation, and forest management professions within Douglas County developed a county-wide Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), in 2011.
Douglas County is home to several forest community types where forest pests (insects and diseases) may be found.
Even if the primary vegetation around your home is Gambel Oak, your community can still face a substantial wildfire threat.
Forest management and vegetation treatments are designed to increase forest health and reduce fuel loading to prevent infestation and/or loss of our county-owned forests from these disturbance agents.
Informational and educational videos to help you reduce wildfire hazards on your property.