Land use planning can reduce wildfire risk by helping communities grow and develop with wildfire in mind. Land use planning tools such as zoning, plans, regulations, and building codes can influence the design, layout, and placement of homes built in wildfire-prone areas.

Land use planning measures are diverse and can be customized to fit the needs of the neighborhood, community, or county. For example, land use planning regulations can require defensible space in the home ignition zone, adequate water supply, road widths and access, and home hardening materials for homes built in high wildfire hazard areas. Land use planning tools can also restrict development in areas of highest hazard.

Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network

The Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network connects and supports people and communities who are striving to live more safely with wildfire. The purpose of FAC Net is to exchange information, collaborate to enhance the practice of fire adaptation, and work together and at multiple scales to help communities live safely with fire. This includes embracing resiliency concepts and taking action before, during and after wildfires. They offer a Fire Adapted Communities Self-Assessment Tool (FAC SAT) to help communities assess their level of fire adaptation and track their capacity to live safely with fire over time

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Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire

Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) works with communities to reduce wildfire risk through improved land use planning. CPAW’s team of professional planners, foresters, economists, and risk modelers help communities integrate wildfire mitigation into the development planning process. CPAW services are provided at no cost to the community, and include land use planning recommendations, hazard assessments, custom research, and training.

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Hispanic Access Foundation Wildfire Toolkit

Latino communities are more vulnerable to experiencing the adverse effects of wildfires. The Hispanic Access Foundation Wildfire Toolkit provides resources about regulations and policies, public and mental health, and response and recovery issues to help communities address Latino considerations related to wildfire.

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American Planning Association: Planning the Wildland-Urban Interface

This free guide from the American Planning Association offers planners an in-depth introduction to the WUI and wildfire basics, covering challenges, trends, and historical context along with the latest wildfire science. It then moves to solutions, providing a holistic planning framework and practical guidance on how to address WUI and wildfire challenges in plans, policies, and regulations.

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Firetopia Land Use Planning Toolkit

The Firetopia Land Use Planning Toolkit includes sample code language, community case studies, and best practices for creating wildfire-resilient land use planning practices. Firetopia addresses community plans, land development regulations, building and fire codes, and funding. It was created by the Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) program.

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Government Alliance on Race & Equity

The Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) is working to achieve racial equity throughout the nation.  Tools and resources available through GARE include issue papers and toolkits, including a Racial Equity tool that provides a broad framework for communities seeking to better integrate racial equity into their work.

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Equitable Development and Environmental Justice

Developed by the Environmental Protection Agency, this free toolkit provides resources for planners in meeting the needs of underserved communities through policies and programs.

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• Barrett K & Rasker R. (2016). Land Use Planning to Reduce Wildfire Risk: Lessons from Five Western Cities.Bozeman, MT: Headwaters Economics.
• Mowery M, Read A, Johnston K, & Wafaie T. (2019). Planning the Wildland-Urban Interface.PAS Report 594. Chicago, IL: American Planning Association.
• Barrett K. (2019). Reducing Wildfire Risk in the Wildland-Urban Interface: Policy, Trends, and Solutions.Idaho Law Review, 55(3).
• Cohen J, Johnson N, & Walther L. (2001). Saving Homes from Wildfires: Regulating the Home Ignition Zone. Zoning News. Chicago, IL: American Planning Association.
• Renner C, Reams M, & Haines T. (2006). Mitigating Wildfire Risk in the Wildland Urban Interface: The Role of Regulations. In Aguirre-Bravo C, Pellicane PJ, Burns DP, & Draggan S. (Eds.), Monitoring Science and Technology Symposium: Unifying Knowledge for Sustainability in the Western Hemisphere. Proceedings RMRS-P-42CD (pp. 715-722). Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.