1. (1) As used in this section:

   1. (a) "County officer" means the same as that term is defined in Section 17-66-101.
   2. (b) "High risk wildland urban interface property" means the same as that term is defined in Section 65A-8-401.
   3. (c) "Wildland urban interface" means the same as that term is defined in Section 65A-1-1.
   4. (d) "Wildland urban interface coordinator" means the same as that term is defined in Section 65A-8-401.

2. (2) If evaluation of high risk wildland urban interface property is assigned to a county under Section 65A-8-402:

   1. (a) the county shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, in accordance with Subsection 65A-8-203(2)(a), which agreement shall address compliance with this Subsection (2) for evaluation and classification of high risk wildland urban interface property; and
   2. (b) a county officer shall require that a wildland urban interface coordinator representing the county annually evaluate high risk wildland urban interface property within the county in accordance with Section 65A-8-402.

3. (3) Beginning January 1, 2027, a county officer shall:

   1. (a) annually assess a fee:

      1. (i) against the property owner of high risk wildland urban interface property within the incorporated and unincorporated portions of the county; and
      2. (ii) in the amount set by the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands under Section 65A-8-402; and

   2. (b)

      1. (i) after retaining a portion of the fee under Subsection (3)(b)(ii), transmit the fee assessed under Subsection (3)(a) to the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands for deposit into the Utah Wildfire Fund created in Section 65A-8-217; and
      2. (ii) retain that portion of the fee assessed under Subsection (3)(a) necessary to pay costs incurred by the county in implementing this section, which the county may include in the county's annual accounting of wildfire prevention, preparedness, mitigation actions, and associated costs for purposes of Subsection 65A-8-203(4)(c).
4. (4) A county may hold a political subdivision lien on high risk wildland urban interface property for a fee that is past due by following the procedures in Sections 17B-1-902 and 17B-1-902.1, as if the county is a special district.

Amended by Chapter 386, 2026 General Session