Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance enacts, amends, and repeals Columbus City Codes to provide for changes in Title 25 - Fire Prevention Code to ensure it aligns with the Ohio Fire Code allowing the Division of Fire to remain in compliance. The Division of Fire is required to adopt a fire code and ensure it is consistently updated to maintain its designation as an Accredited Agency through the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE).
The amendments set forth in this Ordinance are intended to:
1. Align the numbering system in the Columbus City Code with the system utilized in the Ohio Fire Code (OFC) which is the basis for Title 25 of the Columbus City Code
2. Establish a framework to include future updates to the OFC into Title 25 of the Columbus City Code
3. Ensure Title 25 aligns with the provisions included in the most up-to-date provisions of the OFC and grants the Division of Fire authority to enforce those provisions
4. Establish an appeals process for the Division of Fire to review citations issued for violation of this any Section of Title 25 of the Columbus City Code
5. Require crowd managers for gatherings exceeding 1,000 people to complete the prerequisite training
6. Institute a process for ordering a fire watch and publish a fee schedule for permits, inspections, modifications, and rates
7. Sets forth storage requirements for outdoor storage and pallets at manufacturing and recycling facilities
8. Establish new operational and construction permits
9. Increase the safety inspection requirements for food trucks and facilities using outside grills and natural gas fire pits
10. Support the established High Rise Safety and Knox Box programs facilitated by the Division of Fire
FISCAL IMPACT: No immediate fiscal impact to the City of Columbus.
Title
To enact and amend various chapters of Title 25 - Fire Prevention Code, of the Columbus City Codes to ensure alignment with the Ohio Fire Code, establish an appeals process for the review of violations, and establish a new fee structure for certain permits, inspections, modifications, and rates. (AMENDED BY ORD. 3181-2022 PASSED 11/21/2022) BA
Body
WHEREAS, a goal of the City of Columbus is to align Title 25 with the State of Ohio Fire Code, Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 1301 to ensure members of the Division of Fire are granted authority to enforce provisions included therein; and
WHEREAS, modifications to Title 25 of the Columbus City Code are necessary to improve the operations of the Division of Fire and to protect the health and safety of Columbus residents; and
WHEREAS, various changes in the Ohio Administrative Code have necessitated updates to the Columbus City Codes; and
WHEREAS, buildings built under, and in full compliance with the codes in force at the time of construction or alteration thereof, and that have been properly maintained and used for such use as originally permitted, shall be exempt from the requirements of this code; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enact the following chapters of the Columbus City Codes: 2511, 2512, 2514, 2516, 2520, 2521, 2522, 2523, 2524, 2525, 2526, 2527, 2528, 2530, 2531, 2535, 2536, 2537, 2538, 2539, 2552, 2553, 2559, 2567, and Appendix B; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the following chapters of the Columbus City Codes: 2501, 2502, 2503, 2504, 2505, 2506, 2507, 2508, 2509, 2510, 2513, 2515, 2517, 2518, 2519, 2529, 2532, 2533, 2534, 2540, 2541, 2542, 2543, 2544, 2545, 2546, 2547, 2548, 2549, 2550, 2551, 2554, 2555, 2556, 2557, 2558, 2560, 2561, 2562, 2563, 2564, 2565, 2566, 2568, 2569, 2570, 2571, 2572, 2573, 2574, 2575, 2576, 2577, 2578, 2579, 2580, 2581, 2582, 2592, 2593, 2594, and 2596; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Chapters 2511, 2512, 2514, 2516, 2520, 2521, 2522, 2523, 2524, 2525, 2526, 2527, 2528, 2530, 2531, 2535, 2536, 2537, 2538, 2539, 2552, 2553, 2559, 2567, and Appendix B of the Columbus City Codes are hereby enacted to read as shown on the attachment to this Ordinance.
SECTION 2. That Chapters 2501, 2502, 2503, 2504, 2505, 2506, 2507, 2508, 2509, 2510, 2513, 2515, 2517, 2518, 2519, 2529, 2532, 2533, 2534, 2540, 2541, 2542, 2543, 2544, 2545, 2546, 2547, 2548, 2549, 2550, 2551, 2554, 2555, 2556, 2557, 2558, 2560, 2561, 2562, 2563, 2564, 2565, 2566, 2568, 2569, 2570, 2571, 2572, 2573, 2574, 2575, 2576, 2577, 2578, 2579, 2580, 2581, 2582, 2592, 2593, 2594, and 2596 of the Columbus City Codes are hereby amended to read as shown on the attachment to this Ordinance.
SECTION 3. That existing Chapters 2501, 2502, 2503, 2504, 2505, 2506, 25017, 2508, 2509, 2510, 2511, 2512, 2513, 2515, 2517, 2518, 2519, 2529, 2532, 2533, 2534, 2540, 2541, 2542, 2543, 2544, 2545, 2546, 2547, 2548, 2549, 2550, 2551, 2554, 2555, 2556, 2557, 2558, 2560, 2561, 2562, 2563, 2564, 2565, 2566, 2568, 2569, 2570, 2571, 2572, 2573, 2574, 2575, 2576, 2577, 2578, 2579, 2580, 2581, 2582, 2592, 2593, 2594, and 2596 of the Columbus City Codes are hereby repealed.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance will take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.