303-955-4220
Ski lift climbing the mountain with snowy peaks, morning light

Wildfire mitigation money

Is there a Colorado tax credit for wildfire mitigation?

Colorado pays back part of the cost of wildfire mitigation through a state income tax credit, and the mountain counties run slash and chipping programs.

A live person answers. Not a robot, not a phone tree. Updated September 2026.

Photos: Ski lift climbing the mountain with snowy peaks, morning light, Live Kaiah (Unsplash).

The short answer

Yes. For tax years 2025 through 2027, Colorado offers a nonrefundable income tax credit of 100% of wildfire mitigation costs, up to $1,000. The 2025 income limit is $129,200 of federal taxable income. Only out-of-pocket costs paid to a third-party contractor for work meeting CSFS or DFPC standards count, and the claim goes on form DR 0104CR. Confirm eligibility with a tax professional.

Credit

Up to $1,000.

100% of qualifying costs, tax years 2025 through 2027.

Income limit

$129,200.

Federal taxable income limit for 2025, per the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Form

DR 0104CR.

The credit is nonrefundable.

Old deduction

Ended with 2024.

The $2,500 subtraction ended with tax year 2024.

How does the Colorado wildfire mitigation tax credit work?

  • Years. Tax years 2025, 2026 and 2027.
  • Amount. 100% of qualifying costs, up to $1,000.
  • Income limit. $129,200 of federal taxable income for 2025.
  • Nonrefundable. The credit reduces Colorado tax owed. It does not pay out past that.
  • Form. Claim it on form DR 0104CR.

Confirm your eligibility with a tax professional before you file.

What costs count toward the credit?

  • Contractor costs only. Only out-of-pocket costs paid to a third-party contractor count.
  • Standards. The work has to meet Colorado State Forest Service or Division of Fire Prevention and Control standards.
  • Your own labor does not count. Work you do yourself is not a third-party contractor cost.
  • Keep the invoice. The invoice shows the contractor, the work and the amount paid.

What wildfire programs do the mountain counties run?

  • Boulder County: Wildfire Partners. For homes west of Highways 36 and 93. The first assessment is free and re-certification costs $100.
  • Jefferson County: slash collection. $24 per load, cards only.
  • Gilpin County: slash site. Open April 1 to November 8 at 278 Jankowski Dr.
  • Summit County: free chipping. Runs June 1 to July 24.

Confirm this season's dates and fees with the county before you haul.

How do the credit and county programs fit together?

  • Hire the thinning. A contractor's Zone 2 thinning is a third-party cost that counts toward the credit.
  • Haul the slash. Take the cut material to the county slash site or chipping program.
  • Get the certificate. In Boulder County, a Wildfire Partners certificate satisfies the ignition-resistant construction rule effective July 1, 2026.

Call the Kenna Real Estate Group at 303-955-4220 for a list of the mitigation records to ask a seller for.

Questions

Quick answers.

How much is the Colorado wildfire mitigation tax credit?

100% of qualifying costs up to $1,000, for tax years 2025 through 2027.

What is the income limit for the Colorado wildfire credit?

$129,200 of federal taxable income for 2025, per the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Can I claim my own labor for the wildfire credit?

No. Only out-of-pocket costs paid to a third-party contractor count.

Is the $2,500 wildfire mitigation subtraction still available?

No. It ended with tax year 2024.

How much does Jefferson County charge for slash drop-off?

$24 per load, cards only.

The map

Where the mountain towns are.

Every pin opens that town's page. Drive times from downtown Denver, without traffic.

Colorado mountain towns near Denver: 34 mountain towns with drive times to downtown Denver.DenverEvergreen: 28.0 miles, 42 minutes to Denver without trafficConifer: 28.3 miles, 41 minutes to Denver without trafficGolden: 14.8 miles, 24 minutes to Denver without trafficLookout Mountain (Golden): 18.9 miles, 32 minutes to Denver without trafficGenesee: 18.3 miles, 29 minutes to Denver without trafficMorrison: 16.7 miles, 25 minutes to Denver without trafficIndian Hills: 25.6 miles, 46 minutes to Denver without trafficKittredge: 26.4 miles, 44 minutes to Denver without trafficPine: 46.6 miles, 75 minutes to Denver without trafficBuffalo Creek: 44.2 miles, 69 minutes to Denver without trafficBailey: 44.0 miles, 65 minutes to Denver without trafficWoodland Park: 83.7 miles, 104 minutes to Denver without trafficIdaho Springs: 32.0 miles, 44 minutes to Denver without trafficGeorgetown: 44.8 miles, 60 minutes to Denver without trafficBlack Hawk: 37.2 miles, 56 minutes to Denver without trafficCentral City: 37.6 miles, 55 minutes to Denver without trafficNederland: 45.0 miles, 70 minutes to Denver without trafficAllenspark: 61.7 miles, 99 minutes to Denver without trafficLyons: 44.5 miles, 63 minutes to Denver without trafficEstes Park: 67.8 miles, 102 minutes to Denver without trafficBreckenridge: 79.3 miles, 106 minutes to Denver without trafficFrisco: 70.7 miles, 91 minutes to Denver without trafficSilverthorne: 67.1 miles, 86 minutes to Denver without trafficDillon: 67.9 miles, 88 minutes to Denver without trafficKeystone: 73.9 miles, 98 minutes to Denver without trafficWinter Park: 68.3 miles, 100 minutes to Denver without trafficFraser: 71.0 miles, 105 minutes to Denver without trafficVail: 97.3 miles, 122 minutes to Denver without trafficAvon: 105.8 miles, 131 minutes to Denver without trafficEdwards: 116.8 miles, 157 minutes to Denver without trafficAspen: 198.3 miles, 245 minutes to Denver without trafficSnowmass Village: 196.9 miles, 243 minutes to Denver without trafficSteamboat Springs: 155.6 miles, 205 minutes to Denver without trafficCrested Butte: 225.8 miles, 304 minutes to Denver without trafficEvergreenConiferGoldenMorrisonPineBaileyWoodland ParkIdaho SpringsGeorgetownNederlandLyonsEstes ParkBreckenridgeWinter ParkVailAspenSteamboat SpringsCrested Butte
  • Front Range foothills
  • I-70 corridor
  • Peak to Peak
  • Summit County
  • Resort
  • Tap a town to open its page

Outline: U.S. Census Bureau. Roads from downtown Denver: OSRM on OpenStreetMap. Town points: OpenStreetMap and USGS. Drive times without traffic.

Private consultation

Ask us about your mountain home.

303-955-4220

A live person answers. Not a robot, not a phone tree.

  • Every mountain town. Evergreen and Conifer to Summit County and Steamboat.
  • Wildfire, water, winter. Insurance, well, septic and access checked before you offer.
  • One point of contact. From the first call to the closing table.

Colorado Mountain Home Finder is part of the Kenna Real Estate Group at Keller Williams DTC (KWDTC).