Wildfire hazard rating comes before floor plan in unincorporated Eagle County, and for an industrial owner that order matters. Eagle County wildfire regulations apply to all new construction in unincorporated areas, assign each project a low, moderate, high or extreme hazard rating, and require defensible space and ignition resistant construction in moderate, high and extreme zones. We start every Eagle County site with that rating, because it decides the cladding, the roof edge, the vents, the yard layout and the clearances around the building.
The county's Building Resolution, amended January 21, 2025, adopts the 2021 International Building Code with Appendices C, E, I and J, plus the 2021 IRC, with fire codes amended and adopted by Vail Fire and Emergency Services and other fire districts. That split of authority is the second item to settle. The building department reviews the structure, the fire district reviews access, water and fire protection, and the two sometimes ask for different things. We open both conversations at once, so the permit set answers each before submittal.
We build shops, equipment buildings, storage and yards for contractors, service companies, utilities and airport users in the valley. The work is small compared with a plains warehouse but demanding in its details: structural loads from a heavy snow map, footings below frost, ignition resistant envelopes and haul routes over a high pass.
Footings, snow loads and the more restrictive rule
Eagle County amends IBC 1809.5 to require footings subject to frost to be at least 48 inches deep, and replaces IBC 1608.2 so snow loads come from the 2016 Colorado Ground Snow Map or Colorado Design Snow Loads, using the more restrictive of that map and ASCE 7. The practical effect is that the structural engineer must check two sources and use the heavier result.
We collect both values before the frame is quoted and note which one governs on the structural basis of design. Footing depth and frost protection of utility lines follow the 48 inch rule. We also protect foundations from freezing during construction, since a frozen subgrade under a new footing causes settlement in the first thaw.
Defensible space, yards and fire access
Defensible space is part of the site plan, not an afterthought. We clear and grade zones around the building, keep stored materials, vehicles and fuel away from the walls and surface yards with noncombustible materials. Through stabilized laydown yards and fencing and security integration, we create yards where equipment is stored at a safe distance from the structure.
Fire access is reviewed with the district: road width, turning radius, grade, hydrant location and water supply. For sites without hydrants, we coordinate with the district on tanks or other approved water sources and place them where an engine can reach them in winter. Snow storage is planned alongside, because a plowed pile that blocks a hydrant or a turning lane defeats the access the district approved.
Airport-area and service buildings
Eagle County Regional Airport has a 9,000 by 150 ft runway, 4 airlines and 6 gates, and recorded 289,867 enplanements in 2024. Airports of that size draw service operators and tenants who need space for ground equipment, maintenance and storage. We build hangars and support buildings with large clear spans, heated aprons where needed and fire protection suited to aircraft storage.
Away from the airport, a flex or light industrial building with an office front and a shop rear fits most contractors. We design the shop for vehicle height and turning, the office for the staff and the yard for the equipment. Exterior walls in moderate, high and extreme zones use ignition resistant assemblies, so we choose the cladding, the door type and the vent product at the same time as the frame and avoid retrofitting them late.
Design-build for small, code-heavy projects
Small projects with many overlapping rules benefit from one team. Under industrial design-build, our team handles the hazard rating, the structural basis, the fire district comments and the pricing, and brings the owner a single proposal. Changes are priced in writing before work proceeds.
We also use the preconstruction phase to test options, such as a smaller building with a larger yard, a different roof shape to reduce snow load or a different cladding to meet the hazard rating at lower cost. The owner sees the effects of each choice on price and schedule before the design is final. Closeout includes the approved hazard rating, the fire district letter and the inspection record, which help with insurance and with any later sale of the property.
Over Vail Pass and into the valley
Vail Pass (10,662 ft) carries I-70 and formerly U.S. 6 between Vail and Copper Mountain, with a maximum 7% grade and frequent weather related hazardous driving conditions. Loads from the Front Range cross it, and a heavy steel or equipment shipment is at the mercy of the forecast.
We schedule deliveries outside storm windows, stage steel and panels at a yard in the valley before erection and keep a buffer of critical materials on site. When the pass is difficult, crews switch to interior work. Owners with sites in neighboring counties, such as Summit County and Aspen, can share logistics and standards.
Eagle County and its neighbors
From the valley we can reach Glenwood Springs to the west, and we keep a comparison of the code sets so a project in one jurisdiction does not assume the values of another. For utilities and power owners with several sites, we offer a repeatable package that is adjusted for each hazard rating.
Send the parcel and the hazard rating
If the county has already issued a hazard rating, send it with the plat. If not, we will request it. We will return a code-driven scope, a yard and defensible space plan and a priced building concept.
Common Questions
How is my project's wildfire hazard rating decided?
The county assigns each project in unincorporated areas a low, moderate, high or extreme rating. Moderate, high and extreme zones require defensible space and ignition resistant construction. We request the rating during site selection and design the building and yard to meet it.
Who reviews fire protection, the county or the fire district?
Both have a role. The county adopts the building code, and fire codes are amended and adopted by Vail Fire and Emergency Services and other fire districts. We contact the district early to confirm access, water supply and any sprinkler requirements.
How deep must footings be in Eagle County?
The county amends IBC 1809.5 to require footings subject to frost to be at least 48 inches deep. We use that value for foundations and for water and sewer lines unless the engineer specifies a greater depth.
Which snow load applies to my roof?
Eagle County replaces IBC 1608.2 so snow loads come from the 2016 Colorado Ground Snow Map or Colorado Design Snow Loads, using the more restrictive of that map and ASCE 7. Your engineer checks both and uses the higher value.
What should I plan for when trucks cross Vail Pass?
Vail Pass has a maximum 7% grade and frequent weather related hazards. Plan for delivery delays in storms, stage critical items early and keep flexibility in the crew plan for interior work.