City Code, ExplainedBetaPardon our dust while we build this out — expect some changes along the way.

This chapter governs the City's Bureau of Fire, including recovery of costs for emergency responses, false alarm charges, and mandatory fire safety inspections of multifamily and commercial buildings.

Who this affects

Insurance carriers and individuals involved in fire, hazardous material, or vehicle-accident incidents that the Bureau of Fire responds to, as well as owners of multifamily and commercial buildings, nursing homes, child care facilities, and boarding houses subject to annual inspection.

Key rules

• The Bureau of Fire may recover reasonable costs for emergency rescue tools, equipment, materials, hazardous material abatement, fire suppression, and personnel hours used in hazardous material, environmental, fire safety, or rescue incidents, including vehicular accidents and fires.
• Money recovered is submitted to the Board of Fire Trustees for distribution among the City's volunteer fire companies.
• A rate schedule of reasonable costs is set by the Bureau of Fire, updated periodically, and kept on file at the City business office for review; it applies only to incidents occurring after the schedule is set.
• Costs may be recovered directly by the City, by an attorney, or through a third-party billing service, which may also collect interest, legal, administrative, and collection fees.
• If a bill is unpaid within 30 days of notice, it may be turned over to a collection agency or pursued via civil action, along with statutory interest, court costs, collection fees, and attorney's fees.
• Individuals who intentionally set fires, and at-fault drivers found driving under the influence in vehicle accidents, are personally liable for all expenses incurred by the City and/or Bureau of Fire.
• The City is not obligated to pursue collection if it reasonably determines collection efforts would be unsuccessful or would cost more than the amount owed.
• No permit holder or person may create an intentional false alarm.
• The Bureau of Fire charges for responses to repeated fire alarm activations caused by reasons other than smoke or fire, including unmaintained systems, construction dust/fumes, cooking smoke, and intentional or accidental activation.
• False alarm fees follow a tiered schedule per calendar year: no charge for 1-2 alarms, $200 for 3-5, $400 for 6-8, $600 for 9-11, and $800 for 12 or more, split evenly between the City and the Fire Department.
• The Fire Department must mail written notice of a false alarm charge within 10 days of the false alarm, or the City is precluded from assessing the charge.
• False alarm charges are due 30 days from the mailing of the notice of assessment.
• Failure to pay a false alarm charge on time is a violation of the chapter and incurs a $35 late fee.
• Fire personnel inspect multifamily and commercial buildings for compliance with minimum life safety and fire safety requirements, on an annual basis.
• Annual fire safety inspection fees are tiered by building size and type: $150 (under 6,000 sq ft), $300 (6,001-25,000 sq ft), $400 (25,001-75,000 sq ft), $500 (over 75,000 sq ft), $250 (nursing homes), $100 (child care/development facilities), and $100 (room boarding houses).

Penalties

A $35 late fee applies to unpaid false alarm charges; failure to pay is stated as a violation of the chapter. Unpaid recovery costs, interest, court costs, collection fees, and attorney's fees may be pursued through collection agencies or civil action.

Notable and archaic details

• Individuals who intentionally set fires, and drivers found driving under the influence in accidents, are made personally liable for the City's response costs.
• The false alarm fee schedule grants a grace period of one to two alarms per calendar year with no charge before fees begin.