Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Protections
The City of Leavenworth is located in a high fire prone area. To help reduce fire risk to structures, the City established minimum regulations (WUI codes) consistent with nationally recognized good practices for the safeguarding of life and property protection, and to establish required construction materials, methods and planning associated with a structure’s ability to withstand exposure to wildfire events consistent with RCW 19.27.560 and Chelan County Fire District No. 3 recommendations, Leavenworth Municipal Code (LMC) Chapter 15.06.
What is the WUI Retrofit Grant Program?
Many existing older homes do not meet the WUI codes. To support improvements to older homes owned by community members with lower incomes, the City of Leavenworth has adopted a grant program that helps to make our community safer as a whole.
Improvements that provide the most fire resilience include replacing shingle roof, enclosing eaves and decks, changing vents and maintaining landscaping (this last item is not part of the Grant Program but important). Other improvements, such as windows have a lesser benefit and will be evaluated accordingly.
The following items are often requested and require additional clarification:
- Fencing – only fencing within five feet of a structure may be requested for this grant program.
- Windows – to best utilize existing programs, grant applicants who include a request for window replacement will be asked to first utilize the Chelan PUD Window Rebate program. If fire resilient windows are an additional cost, not covered by the PUD program, owners may apply for this grant program to off-set the additional costs.
Who can qualify for the Retrofit Grant Program?
Each of the following conditions must be met in order to qualify for Retrofit Grant funding:
- The property must be a single-family home or accessory dwelling unit that is more than 30 years old.
- The dwelling must be occupied by the owner, who must also be the applicant.
- The owner must qualify for low-income status, defined as 80% of the average median income of Chelan County (the actual dollar amount changes yearly).
- The area of improvement/rehabilitation does not contain asbestos.
- The type of improvement/rehabilitation is consistent with the WUI requirements.
Other Resources
- Housing Fire Retrofit Grant Program (LMC 3.45)
- Wildland-Urban Interface Building Standards (LMC 15.06)
View or download the application here.
Click on the icon to the left to view and download the application in pdf format (it will open in a new tab or window based on your browser settings).
If you do not have a printer, we have copies available at City Hall.
Questions?
If you have questions, please, give us a call at (509) 548-5275.
