WFPN is designed for builders, developers, fire service professionals, building and planning officials, HOAs, and community representatives interested in designing and retrofitting neighborhoods to meet the Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood Standard.

Wildfire Prepared Home focuses on individual properties, while WFPN addresses how homes interact with each other within a community—including spacing, fuel continuity, and shared infrastructure. 

Yes. Both new and existing neighborhoods may be eligible. Existing communities may require coordination across property owners and shared spaces to meet program requirements.

WFPN is most effective when applied early in planning and design but can also be implemented in existing communities through retrofit and fuel management. 

No. In a Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood (WFPN), all homes must achieve a Wildfire Prepared Home (WFPH) designation, either Base or Plus, but not every home is required to meet the Plus level. However, that’s only part of the story. 

What the Standard Requires vs. What Long-Term Viability Demands 

• WFPN evaluates wildfire risk at the neighborhood scale, recognizing that risk is shared across parcels. A neighborhood can achieve designation with a mix of Base and Plus homes because: 

• Base addresses ember exposure  

• Plus addresses embers, flames, and radiant heat (structure-to-structure fire spread)  

• Typically: 

• Edge homes (highest exposure) → encouraged to meet Plus  

• Interior homes → may meet Base  

Plus Should Be the Goal for All Homes Over Time 

• While not required today, WFPH+ is the only level that meaningfully addresses how fires actually spread in neighborhoods. As neighborhoods burn: 

• Structures become fuel  

• Radiant heat and direct flame contact drive losses  

• Risk is no longer “edge vs. interior”, it becomes structure-to-structure  

• This means interior homes built only to Base today may become tomorrow’s ignition sources. 

No. WFPN complements local codes and fire authority requirements; it does not replace them. 

A recent analysis by Headwaters Economics and IBHS found that building to WFPH+ adds approximately 3% to the cost of key wildfire-resistant components (such as roofing, eaves, siding, and windows) compared to traditional construction. Cost differences compared to the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (CWUI), Title 24, Part 7 requirements are typically around $2,000. 

The CWUI Code establishes the minimum legal requirements for building in wildfire-prone areas of California. 

WFPH+ goes beyond code, using the latest IBHS research to further reduce wildfire risk by addressing: 

• Increased structure spacing 

• Reduced fuel continuity 

• Enhanced building materials 

Key differences include: 

• Eliminating exposed combustible materials (e.g., wood) 

• Enclosing eaves 

• Dual-pane windows with tempered glass in both panes 

• Non-combustible attachments (decks, pergolas, etc.) 

• A 0–5 Foot Noncombustible Zone around the home 

IBHS will review the submitted information, assess wildfire exposure (including ember and flame risk), and provide guidance on mitigation strategies and requirements.  

This may include identifying where different levels of protection (WFPH Base or Plus) apply within the neighborhood.