State of Utah Wildland-Urban Interface Program

Utah HB 48: What it means for Herriman residents

Utah House Bill 48 (HB 48) is a State law passed in early 2025 that takes effect on January 1, 2026. It is about wildfire risk in areas where neighborhoods are close to open land (often called the “wildland-urban interface,” or WUI).

The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL) is creating a new map to show which areas it considers “high-risk.” Some properties inside that State map may have a new annual fee.

Key links



Top questions

Is my address affected?

  • What we know
    • Some Herriman addresses are likely to be affected.
    • The State is creating a “high-risk” boundary map.
    • The State says the finalized map will be viewable on the Utah Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal (UWRAP) starting January 1, 2026.
  • What we don’t know yet
    • Exactly which Herriman addresses will be inside the finalized State boundary.
    • Whether residents will be able to search by address (instead of reading a map).

Will I have to pay a new fee?

  • What we know
    • If a property is inside the State’s “high-risk” boundary, there may be an annual fee.
    • The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL) sets the fee amount. Salt Lake County collects it.
  • What we don’t know yet
    • The final dollar amount(s) for the fee.
    • Exactly how the fee will be calculated for common situations (for example, multiple buildings on one property).

When would the fee show up and what will it look like?

  • What we know
    • Salt Lake County is expected to assess and collect the fee.
  • What we don’t know yet
    • How the fee will show up for residents (on a property tax notice or a separate bill).
    • Exact billing dates and due dates.

Is this a City fee?

  • What we know
    • The City does not set this fee. It is a State program and a County billing process.
  • What we don’t know yet
    • How the County and State will handle customer service once billing begins (and what questions will be handled by which agency).

Can I lower my risk level or appeal something I disagree with?

  • What we know
    • The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL) says “lot (triage) assessments” are part of the program, and FFSL says property owners may request an assessment.
    • FFSL says the appeals process will be set in administrative rules.
    • FFSL’s FAQ says a property owner can opt out of an assessment, but opting out means being treated as highest risk and charged the highest fee.
  • What we don’t know yet
    • How residents will request an assessment locally (who to contact and timelines).
    • The final appeal steps, deadlines, and where appeals will be submitted.


About the Program

The State’s “high-risk area” map

  • What we know
    • The State is creating a “high-risk” boundary map for wildfire risk.
    • The State says the finalized map will be viewable on its Utah Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal starting January 1, 2026.
    • This new State map is not the same thing as other previous maps.
  • What we don’t know yet
    • Exactly which Herriman addresses will be inside the finalized State boundary.
    • Whether residents will be able to search by address (instead of reading a map).

The fee (what it is and who might pay it)

  • What we know
    • If a property is inside the State’s “high-risk” boundary, there may be an annual fee.
    • FFSL (Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands) sets the fee amount. The County collects it.
    • FFSL has said the fee is meant to pay for running the program, including the cost of home/lot assessments.
    • FFSL has described an early phase (2026–2027) and a later phase (starting in 2028) that uses assessment results.
  • What we don’t know yet
    • The final dollar amount(s) for the fee.
    • Exactly how the fee will be calculated for common situations (for example, multiple buildings on one property).
    • Exactly when and how residents will be billed.


Who is responsible for what

State of Utah (Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, “FFSL”)

  • What we know
    • FFSL is making the “high-risk” wildfire map.
    • FFSL sets the fee amount.
    • FFSL is building the rules and the system for the program.
  • What we don’t know yet
    • The final rules and the final fee amounts.
    • Exactly what tools the State will provide (for example, an address lookup tool).

Salt Lake County

  • What we know
    • The County is expected to assess and collect the fee.
    • The law allows the County to keep part of the fee to cover County costs and send the rest to the State wildfire fund.
  • What we don’t know yet
    • How the fee will show up for residents (on a property tax notice or a separate bill).
    • Exact billing dates, due dates, and the process for questions or disputes.

City of Herriman

  • What we know
    • The City does not set this fee. It is a State program and a County billing process.
    • The City’s local role relates to enforcing building and safety rules (WUI Code) in areas where those rules apply.
  • What we don’t know yet
    • How much the new State “high-risk” map will overlap with other previous maps.


Home/lot assessments and “classes”

Some State materials describe a system where homes/lots could be placed into classes based on wildfire risk. This can involve things like defensible space (keeping vegetation away from structures) and building features that help a home resist embers.

  • What we know
    • FFSL says “lot (triage) assessments” are part of the program.
    • A higher risk could mean a higher fee in the later phase (starting in 2028).
  • What we don’t know yet
    • How residents will request an assessment locally (who to contact or timelines).
    • Who will do assessments in Salt Lake County (FFSL, the County, or fire service).
    • What paperwork residents will receive after an assessment.


Opting out and appeals

  • What we know
    • FFSL’s FAQ page says a property owner can opt out of an assessment. It also says opting out means being treated as highest risk and charged the highest fee.
    • FFSL says the appeals process will be set in administrative rules.
    • FFSL notes private assessors may be an option if certified under FFSL standards.
  • What we don’t know yet
    • Exactly how an opt-out will work in practice (and how a resident could later request an assessment after opting out).
    • The final appeal steps, deadlines, and where appeals will be submitted.


Insurance

  • What we know
    • FFSL says HB 48 includes insurance-related provisions that use the State’s high-risk boundary.
  • What we don’t know yet
    • How each insurance company will apply these changes and when residents will see updates, since insurers can differ.


What residents can do now

  • Watch for the State’s finalized high-risk boundary map on the UWRAP portal starting January 1, 2026.
  • If you live near open space, consider basic wildfire safety steps like keeping flammable material away from your home and following defensible space guidance.



What the City will share next

The City will post verified updates as the State finalizes the map, rules, and fee amounts, and as Salt Lake County’s billing process becomes clearer.

Because this is a State program with County billing, some questions may not have answers yet. This page will be updated as new information is published by FFSL and the County.



Back to top of page