HB 48 and your Structure Exposure Score, explained
Utah's wildfire law changed what it means to own a home near the foothills. Here's how the high-risk boundary works, how exposure-score data fits into it, and what you can actually do about it.
What HB 48 does
HB 48 directs Utah's approach to the wildland-urban interface — the areas where homes meet wildland vegetation. It supports statewide wildfire risk mapping so residents, communities, and insurers work from a consistent baseline, and it directs local governments to establish defensible space standards for high-risk areas. What your city specifically requires can vary, so check whether yours has published a WUI map or ordinance.
The Structure Exposure Score
The Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands uses several inputs to establish the high-risk WUI boundary. Those inputs include UWRAP Structure Exposure Score data, structure density, and local expert review. Exposure scores use a 1-to-10 scale to communicate mapped wildfire exposure.
A Structure Exposure Score of 7 or above is one input used in the mapping process. It does not by itself determine the final high-risk WUI boundary. Properties with taxable structures inside the final boundary may be assessed an annual fee. For 2026 and 2027, the state describes that fee as a flat amount based on taxable structure square footage.
What actually moves the needle
- Zone 0 (0–5 ft): a noncombustible buffer against the house — rock mulch instead of bark, no junipers against the siding, nothing flammable under the deck.
- Zones 1–2 (5–100 ft): thinned and separated vegetation, ladder fuels pruned, dead material removed — spacing that keeps a ground fire on the ground.
- The structure itself: ember-resistant vents, clean gutters or gutter protection, sealed deck and fence transitions. Most homes ignite from embers, not the flame front.
- Documentation: photos, receipts, and contractor records of the work. If you need to show an insurer improvements — or respond to a local assessment — the file is the proof.
Where we come in
Our assessment tells you exactly where your property stands against the zone model and what a prioritized fix looks like, with costs. Our crews do the work — vegetation and structure both, under a licensed general contractor. And every project closes with a before-and-after documentation file built for exactly the conversations HB 48 is creating: with your city, and with your insurance carrier.
Common questions
Will mitigation work lower my score or my fee?
The state administers the high-risk boundary, official lot-assessment program, and applicable fees. We cannot promise a specific boundary, score, fee, insurance, or renewal outcome. Mitigation can reduce actual vulnerabilities and create a documented record to discuss with your insurer and local officials.
My insurer sent a non-renewal or inspection letter. What now?
Ask what's driving the decision, request the specific conditions they flagged, and get an assessment scheduled. Carriers respond to documented, completed work far better than to promises. Bring us the letter — we build the scope around it.
Is my city enforcing defensible space requirements yet?
It varies. HB 48 directs local governments to establish standards for designated high-risk areas, and adoption is rolling out city by city. We track adoption across our service area and will tell you what applies at your address.
Does clearing mean losing all my trees?
No. Defensible space is about spacing, ladder fuels, and what's directly against the house — not scraping the lot. Good mitigation usually makes a property look better, not bare.
Find out where you stand.
One visit, one written report, and a clear picture of your property's exposure — before your insurer or your city decides for you.