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Featured image by Robert Davis
At its Feb. 3 meeting, the Louisville City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1916, Series 2026, which establishes minimum defensible-space landscaping standards for properties destroyed and rebuilt in subdivisions impacted by the Marshall Fire.
Effective immediately, new installations of plants and combustible materials are prohibited within the first five feet (the “Immediate Zone”) around primary structures within the impacted subdivisions. Moving forward, only noncombustible, hard surface ground cover materials (rock, gravel, sand, concrete, bare earth, or stone/concrete pavers) are allowed within the Immediate Zone.
Like the City Council’s prohibition in January of new juniper plantings, the new defensible space ordinance reflects Louisville’s commitment to proactive wildfire mitigation and community safety. Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in effect in Louisville due to ongoing high fire danger.
Existing landscaping may be maintained
The prohibition applies to new plantings/installations only. Existing vegetative landscaping installed within the first five feet around homes within the impacted areas prior to Feb. 3, 2026 can be maintained, but not expanded or replaced. Additionally, trees, shrubs, and other landscape plantings outside the five-foot Immediate Zone must be maintained and pruned so as not to encroach into the zone.
While this restriction only applies to new landscape plantings, and only within the Marshall Fire-impacted areas, the City recommends that all property owners consider eliminating combustible materials within the first five feet around their homes or businesses in order to create defensible space. For more information about actions you can take to help mitigate your property’s wildfire risk, visit the Wildfire Partners website.
Why the first five feet?
The first five feet around the structures on your property are critical to the survival of your home and outbuildings during a wildfire. More homes ignite due to impinging embers than any other cause. Embers can travel a mile or more ahead of a wildfire, igniting combustible materials, especially fine fuels like pine needles, dry leaves, wood mulch, and dry grass. When those materials are in direct contact with your home or other buildings, this can quickly lead to structure ignition.
Which areas are affected by this ordinance?
Ordinance No. 1916, Series 2026 only applies to subdivisions which were impacted by the Marshall Fire, namely: The Enclave; A replat of the Enclave; Second Replat of the Enclave; Centennial Heights West; Cornerstone Subdivision; Centennial 8; Centennial 8 Replat A; Centennial 6; A Replat of Centennial 7; Sundance Second Filing Partial Replat; Cherrywood II; Centennial Heights Subdivision; Sundance Third Filing; Coal Creek Ranch Filing No. 3; Coal Creek Ranch Filing No. 3 Replat A; and Coal Creek Ranch Filing No. 4.
The ordinance focuses on these areas as they are where construction and new landscaping are currently happening within Louisville.
Why this matters in Louisville
Louisville’s proximity to open space, combined with drought and climate-driven wildfire conditions, requires proactive vegetation management. Creating and maintaining a noncombustible zone around buildings is a critical element of wildfire mitigation best practices.
Safer landscaping alternatives
Outside the five-foot Immediate Zone, residents are encouraged to use fire-resistant landscaping. For suggestions, check out the Low Flammability Landscaping Plants guide created by the specialists at CSU Extension. Within five feet of a home or building, only use noncombustible, hard surface ground cover materials, such as rock, gravel, sand, concrete, bare earth, or stone/concrete pavers.
The rest of the ordinance can be read here.
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