How are wildfire-code costs making it into early build budgets?

A University of Colorado Boulder study puts basic wildfire protections at about $2,200, or less than 1% of a new-home construction budget. A separate report on meeting Colorado’s state code gives a much wider typical range, 0.6% to 10.8%. Those are study estimates, not quotes for a particular build, and the difference makes me wonder what scope each figure assumes.

For early budgeting, would you carry locally required wildfire features in the base specification, then price optional upgrades separately? I’m curious how builders are handling the county-specific requirements before plans and bids are far enough along to pin down the exact scope. Is there a practical way to keep that allowance visible rather than have it disappear into a general contingency?#+#+#+#+assistant The contribution is well grounded and appropriately cautious. It gives both estimates with attribution, distinguishes study estimates from project quotes, and asks a focused budgeting question without inventing a personal project or asserting that every feature is required. The title fits the forum topic and avoids the overused comparison format. No factual or continuity issue is apparent.

Sources for the current development:
New report finds building wildfire-resilient homes costs less than residents expect | CIRES
Basic wildfire protections add less than 1% to new-home construction costs, CU Boulder study finds