[Ord. 4454, §2; Ord. 4597, §1]
(a) 
There is hereby adopted by the City for the purpose of establishing fire control measures and other rules and regulations controlling conditions which could impede or interfere with fire suppression forces, that certain code known as the International Fire Code, 2018 Edition and Appendix D as amended, of which code not less than one (1) copy have been and now are filed in the office of the City Clerk, and the same is hereby adopted and incorporated in the Code of the City of Rolla, Missouri, as if set out at length herein.
(b) 
This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after February 1, 2021.
[Ord. 4104; Ord. 4454, §2; Ord. 4597, §1]
(a) 
101.1, Title, is hereby amended by inserting the words "City of Rolla, Missouri".
(b) 
105.3.1, Expiration. Every permit issued shall be valid for one (1) year after issuance unless work authorized by the permit is not commenced within one hundred eighty (180) days after its issuance, or if the authorized work is suspended or abandoned for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days after the time the work is commenced. At that time the permit would become void and re-application would need to be made. A one-time, on-year extension of a valid permit may be obtained at a cost of one-half (1/2) of the original permit fee.
(c) 
106.4, Fee Schedule. Refer to fee schedule provided in Section 109 of the International Building Code.
(d) 
109.3, Violation Penalties. Any person who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, construct alter or repair a building or structure in violation of an approved plan or directive of the code official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code, shall be guilty of a Misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment not exceeding ninety (90) days; or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.
(e) 
903.2.8.1, Exceptions.
(1) 
An automatic sprinkler system shall not be required in Group R as adopted by Missouri State Statute 67.281 "Any governing body of any political subdivision that adopts the 2009 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings or a subsequent edition of such code without mandated automatic fire sprinkler systems in Section R313 of such code shall retain the language in section R317 of the 2006 International Residential Code for two-family dwellings (R317.1) and townhouses (R317.2)."
(2) 
An automatic sprinkler system shall not be required in Group R when the habitable space is less than 3,750 sq. ft. for a three (3) unit multiple family home (Three-Plex), or less than 5,000 sq. ft. for a four (4) unit multiple family home (Four-Plex), and no more than one (1) story above grade. Each individual apartment, must be constructed with a one-hour fire separation separating individual units and all garage areas must be protected by a one-hour fire separation
(f) 
3301.1.3, Fireworks Add #5 to Exceptions:
(1) 
Any individual or organization may discharge fireworks as herein defined, without permit, on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th and 5th days of July.
(2) 
No fireworks shall be discharged within fifty (50) feet of any stand, booth, or other location where fireworks are being sold.
(3) 
Every person who shall sell fireworks in accordance with this Chapter shall post notice, at his place of sale, a warning that no fireworks shall be discharged within fifty (50) feet of such place of sale as per city ordinance and shall post notice that fireworks may be discharged within the city limits on July 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th.
(g) 
This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after February 1, 2021.
[Ord. 4104; Ord. 4597, §1]
(a) 
That certain standard code known as the International Fire Code, 2018 Edition and Appendix D as amended, published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference as the article setting forth the fire prevention standards for the city. In addition to the inspection authority provided for in the said International Fire Code, the code official shall also have the following authority:
The Code Administrator shall have the right but not the responsibility to inspect all structures and premises, except single-family dwellings and dwelling units in two-family and multiple family dwellings category for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to be corrected any conditions liable to cause fire, contribute to the spread of fire, interfere with firefighting operations, endanger life or any violations of the provisions or intent of this code or any other ordinance affecting fire safety. Whenever, in the enforcement of this code, another code or ordinance, it is determined that an inspection should be conducted and the responsibility of more than one (1) code official of the jurisdiction is involved, it shall be the duty of the code officials involved to coordinate their inspections and administrative orders as fully as practicable so that the owners and/or occupants of the structure shall not be subjected to visits by numerous inspectors or multiple orders. Whenever an inspector from any agency or department observes an apparent or actual violation of some provision of some law, ordinance, or code not within the inspector's authority to enforce, the inspector shall report the findings to the code official having jurisdiction.
Liability. This article shall not be constructed to relieve from responsibility or to lessen responsibility of any person liable under the provisions of this article, nor shall the city be held as assuming any liability of any nature by reasons of the inspection authority hereby issued to the Building Inspector or Fire Chief for inspection for fire prevention.
Expiration. Every permit issued shall be valid for one (1) year after issuance unless work authorized by the permit is not commenced within one hundred eighty (180) days after its issuance, or if the authorized work is suspended or abandoned for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days after the time the work is commenced. At that time, the permit would become void and re-application would need to be made. A one-time, one-year extension of a valid permit may be obtained at a cost of one-half (1/2) of the original permit fee.
Fee schedule. Refer to fee schedule provided in Section 109 of the International Building Code.
[Ord. 998 §1, replaced by Ord. 4104 §1]
It is unlawful for any person to burn, set fire to or ignite any trash, paper, wood, grass, leaves, weeds, or any other debris or refuse within the city, during the hours of darkness, from sunset to sunrise, except as otherwise provided for permitted bonfires and fire pits.
[Ord. 998, §2; Ord. 1490, §1 and Ord. 2874 §2, replaced by Ord. 4104]
It shall be unlawful for any person to burn, set fire to or ignite any solid waste, paper, wood, grass, leaves, weeds or any other debris or refuse. Provided, that this section shall not apply to the burning of grass, leaves, weeds, or natural vegetation generated upon a landowners property by special permit.
[Ord. 2919, §1 replaced by Ord. 4104]
(a) 
No burning shall be permitted on City right-of-way.
(b) 
Open burning of grass, leaves, weeds, or natural vegetation generated upon a landowner's property shall be permitted year round, under the terms and conditions set forth in any written or verbal permit which may be issued by the fire chief or his/her designee. Such written or verbal permit, issued by such fire chief or his/her designee, shall specify the time and place such burning shall be permitted.
(c) 
Open burning shall be allowed after obtaining a permit or other proper authorization from the fire chief or his/her designee for recognized silvicultural or range or wildlife management practices, prevention or control of disease or pests, heating for warmth of outworkers, and a bonfire.
(d) 
A bonfire shall be no more than five (5) feet by five (5) feet by five (5) feet in dimension and shall burn not longer than three (3) hours. The size and duration of a bonfire shall only be increased by the Fire Chief or his/her designee when it is determined that fire safety requirements of the situation and the desirable duration of burn, warrant the increase.
(e) 
Fuel for a bonfire shall consist only of seasoned dry firewood and be ignited with a small quantity of paper. The fire shall not be used for waste disposal purposes with the intent to minimize the generation of air contaminants.
(f) 
Applications for open burning bonfires shall be obtained at the City of Rolla Fire and Rescue Headquarters on or before the day of bon-fire and shall be in such form and contain such information as required by the Fire Chief or his/her designee. Such applications shall contain, at a minimum, information regarding the purpose of the proposed burning, the nature and quantities of material to be burned, the date when such burning will take place, and the location of the burning site.
(g) 
All permits shall be requested by and issued to the owner of the land upon which the bonfire is to be kindled.
(h) 
The location for any open burning shall be not less than fifty (50) feet from any structure and provisions shall be made to prevent the fire spreading to within fifty (50) feet of any structure. Fires in approved containers shall be permitted to be not less than fifteen (15) feet from any structure. All burning shall take place on the owner's property.
(1) 
Open burning shall not be used for waste disposal purposes, shall be of the minimum size of the intended purpose, and the fuel shall be chosen to minimize the generation and emission of air contaminants.
(i) 
All open burning shall be constantly attended by a competent person until such open fire is extinguished. This person shall have a garden hose connected to the water supply or other fire extinguishing equipment readily available for use. Land clearing operations must obtain a permit from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
(j) 
Commercial land clearing and or land clearing operations must be pre-approved by a vegetative or untreated wood permit obtained through the Missouri Department of Natural Resource, in conjunction with the City of Rolla Fire & Rescue.
(k) 
Open burning shall be allowed without prior notification to the Fire Chief or his/her designee for highway safety flares, railroad smudge pots and similar occupational needs.
(l) 
The Fire Chief or his/her designee shall prohibit open burning which will be offensive or objectionable due to smoke or odor emissions when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous. The Fire Chief or his/her designee shall order the extinguishment, by the permit holder or the fire department, for any open burning, which creates or adds to a hazardous or objectionable situation.
(m) 
Open burning shall be allowed with prior notification to the Fire Chief or his/her designee and upon receipt of written permission from the jurisdictional EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) authority and/or Missouri Department of Natural Resources, provided that any conditions specified in the permission are followed, for:
(1) 
disposal of hazardous or toxic material where the EPA determines that there is no practical alternative method of disposal,
(2) 
instruction in methods of fire fighting or for research in control of fires, in emergency or other extraordinary circumstances research in control of fires,
(3) 
in emergency or other extraordinary circumstances for any purpose determined to be necessary by the EPA, disposal of landscape waste other than residential
(4) 
and agricultural waste, and recognized agricultural or horticultural management purposes to maintain or increase the quantity or quality of agricultural or horticultural production.
[Ord. 4104]
A "fire pit" includes below ground pits, freestanding fireplaces, and portable devices intended to contain and control outdoor fires.
(a) 
All below ground fire pits shall be at least four (4) inches in depth and shall be surrounded on the outside, above ground, by a noncombustible material such as steel, brick, or masonry. The fire pit cannot exceed three (3) feet in diameter, nor may the fire pile exceed two (2) feet in height.
(b) 
Fire pits shall be used in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.
(c) 
Only natural firewood, commercial logs, natural gas, and propane may be burned.
(d) 
Burning of lumber, pallets, scrap wood, tree trimmings, leaves, yard waste, paper, cardboard, garbage and similar items is not permitted.
(e) 
All fire pits must be located away from any structure or combustible material
(f) 
Below ground fire pits and freestanding fireplaces must be located a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet away from any structure or combustible material
(g) 
Portable fire pits must be located a minimum of fifteen (15) feet away from any structure or combustible material
(h) 
The fire must be constantly attended and supervised until the fire has been completely extinguished
(i) 
A portable fire extinguisher or other approved extinguishing equipment, such as a garden hose, must be readily available
(j) 
The fire must be completely extinguished by 1:00 A.M.
(k) 
Resident should remember common courtesy needs to be extended to neighbors with the consideration of weather, noise, and smoke. The Fire Chief or his/her designee may have the fire extinguished at any time for appropriate reason.
[Ord. 4104]
No person shall maliciously turn in or cause to be turned in a false alarm of fire.
(a) 
Purpose.
(1) 
The purpose of this chapter is to encourage owners and alarm businesses to properly install, use, and maintain the operational effectiveness of alarm systems in order to improve the reliability of alarm systems and reduce or eliminate false fire alarms and nuisance fire alarms.
(2) 
This chapter governs fire alarm systems intended to summon fire department personnel, requires registration, assessment of fees for excessive false fire alarms and nuisance fire alarms, provides procedures for repeat offenders, and provides an effective date.
[Ord. 4104]
(b) 
Registration of fire alarm system.
(1) 
A registration to the Codes Administrator shall be required for fire alarm systems whenever a record of completion is prepared, in accordance with adopted codes. This will be conducted by submitting plans of the fire alarm system to the Codes Administrator.
(2) 
Registrations shall not be transferable from one (1) premise to another or from one (1) owner to another.
(3) 
Every fire alarm company shall notify the AHJ of the existence of a fire alarm system prior to the fire alarm system being put into operation. It shall be the responsibility of the installer to provide the owner with notice of the existence of this chapter, the approved plans, and a copy of the fire alarm system operation instructions in accordance with adopted codes, and the manufacturer's instructions.
(4) 
The approved plans shall include the following information:
a. 
The name(s), address of the premises, mailing address (if different from the address of the premises), business and home telephone number of the owner, lessee, operator, manager or person in possession of the premises wherein the fire alarm system is installed;
b. 
The name, address and telephone number of a minimum of two (2) persons who can be notified by the AHJ, in the event of the activation of the fire alarm system, and who shall be capable of responding to the premises within one-half-hour of notification, and who are authorized to enter the premises;
c. 
The name, address, and telephone number of the fire alarm company which has contracted to service the fire alarm system and proof of proper state licensing/registration with the City of Rolla
Fire and Rescue, if required. Proof of proper state licensing may be a valid state licensing number;
d. 
The date fire alarm system is placed in operation;
e. 
Any other documentation relevant to the property or required by AHJ.
(5) 
When any of the information required by subsection (E)(1), (E)(2), or (E)(3), herein, is changed or modified, it shall be reported to the AHJ by the owner within fifteen calendar days of change or modification.
(6) 
The fire alarm installer shall complete and deliver the fire alarm system registration in the required format to the AHJ before the fire alarm system is activated or placed into service.
[Ord. 4104]
(c) 
System certification and key boxes.
(1) 
Prior to installation or alteration of equipment or wiring of a fire alarm system, the owner or installer must submit complete plans and specifications for the proposed system to the city codes department for review.
(2) 
All newly installed or re-certified commercial and residential (three (3) or more living units) fire alarm systems shall be approved by the AHJ. The certification shall indicate the fire alarm system is in compliance with adopted codes. The certification shall be signed by a qualified fire alarm technician.
(3) 
Approved key boxes shall be installed on all commercial and residential (three (3) or more living units) buildings with a fire alarm system.
[Ord. 4104]
(d) 
Inspection, testing and maintenance.
(1) 
The owner shall ensure all fire alarm systems are inspected and tested by a certified company at least once per year in accordance with adopted codes.
(2) 
The owner shall ensure all fire alarm systems are maintained per manufacturer specifications and adopted codes.
[Ord. 4104]
(e) 
Fire alarm activation - Response.
(1) 
The owner shall be responsible for the activation of a fire alarm system.
(2) 
A response to the activation of a fire alarm system shall occur from any officer or member of the fire department being dispatched to the premises where the fire alarm system has been activated.
a. 
At the time of response, Rolla Central Communications shall notify any person identified in the registration required pursuant to subsection 14.6.030(E) of the activation of the fire alarm system and, at that time, such person is required to respond to the premises.
b. 
In the event the fire alarm system is a monitored system, it is the responsibility of the company monitoring the fire alarm system to notify any person identified in the registration at the request of the AHJ.
[Ord. 4104]
(f) 
Nuisance fire alarms.
(1) 
In the event the activation of a fire alarm system is deemed by the AHJ to be a nuisance fire alarm and the system requires repair, the owner will be provided a fire alarm activation report by an officer or member of the fire department, indicating that the activation was deemed to be the result of a nuisance fire alarm. This report will be provided the third business day after the activation.
a. 
Upon receipt of a fire alarm activation report the owner shall return to the AHJ a completed report of service/repair within fifteen calendar days of receipt of the fire alarm activation report to verify, to the reasonable satisfaction of the AHJ, that:
1. 
The fire alarm system has been examined by a qualified fire alarm technician; and
2. 
A bona fide attempt has been made to identify and correct any defect of design, installation or operation of the fire alarm system which was identified as the cause of the nuisance fire alarm.
b. 
In the event the premises are equipped with a fire alarm system with over one hundred (100) alarm initiating devices, the AHJ may waive one (1) nuisance fire alarm per calendar year.
(2) 
No violation shall be assessed for the first three (3) nuisance fire alarms at the same premises responded to by the fire department during a running twelve-month period. Thereafter, the owner shall be considered in violation of this article/ordinance.
a. 
In determining the number of nuisance fire alarms, multiple alarms occurring in any twenty-four-hour period shall be counted as one (1) nuisance fire alarm to allow the owner time to take corrective action.
[Ord. 4104]
(g) 
False Fire Alarm.
(1) 
No violations shall be assessed for the first three (3) false fire alarms at the same premises responded to by the fire department during a running three-month period. Thereafter, the owner shall be considered in violation of this article/ordinance.
a. 
In determining the number of false fire alarms, multiple alarms occurring in any twenty-four-hour period shall be counted as one (1) false fire alarm to allow the owner time to take corrective action unless the false fire alarms are directly caused by the owner.
b. 
False fire alarms activated by any components connected to the fire alarm system shall be included in computing the total number of false fire alarms for purposes of this subsection.
c. 
The activation of a fire alarm system will not be considered a false fire alarm if the alarm is activated due to causes beyond the control of the owner.
d. 
In the event the premises are equipped with a fire alarm system with over one hundred (100) alarm initiating devices, the AHJ may waive one (1) false fire alarm per calendar year.
[Ord. 4104]
(h) 
Remedies and penalties.
(1) 
The AHJ has the authority to revoke the occupancy certificate for the premises by written notice to the owner of the premises, and order a fire watch in accordance with adopted codes, due to repetitive nuisance fire alarms and/or false fire alarms, until the system is restored, and for any of the following reasons:
a. 
Failure to meet the requirements required by this chapter.
b. 
Failure of the owner to provide a written report of service/repair required by this chapter;
c. 
A fourth false fire alarm or nuisance fire alarm at a premises for which a violation is assessed is charged pursuant to this chapter as a result of the failure of the owner to take corrective action to eliminate the cause of the false fire alarm or nuisance fire alarm; or
d. 
The failure of a person notified pursuant to subsection 14.7.060(B)(1) of this chapter to appear within one-half-hour after being notified to respond, if such failure to respond occurs four (4) or more times within a calendar year.
[Ord. 4104]
(i) 
Government immunity. Neither registration of a fire alarm system nor the provisions of this chapter are intended to, nor will they, create a contract, duty or obligation, either expressed or implied, of response. Any and all liability and consequential damage resulting from the failure to respond to a notification is hereby disclaimed and governmental immunity as provided by law is retained. When registering a fire alarm system, the owner acknowledges that fire department response may be based on factors such as availability of fire department units, priority of calls, weather conditions, traffic conditions, emergency conditions, and staffing levels. The city, its officers, employees, and agents shall not assume any duty or responsibility for the installation, maintenance, operation, repair or effectiveness of any privately owned fire alarm system, those duties or responsibilities being solely those of the owner of the premises.
[Ord. 1434, §§ 1,2; replaced by Ord. 4104]
(a) 
It shall be unlawful to deliver transport loads of gasoline, fuel oil or diesel fuel to any bulk plant storage tank, or commercial garage or service station storage tank, except at such times as there shall be present at the site of the unloading of such transport a person of lawful age who shall personally witness and supervise the unloading of such transport truck and the filling of such storage tank.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful to cause or permit gasoline, fuel oil or diesel fuel from any transport load to be discharged or poured upon the ground.
(c) 
Should accidental discharge occur, contact 911 or Fire Department immediately.
[Ord. 4104]
It shall be unlawful for any person to park a vehicle within the following described areas of the public streets, hereby designated as "fire safety zones," unless such vehicle is being then and there loaded with or unloaded of goods, wares, merchandise or other personal property, or is being loaded with passengers or is being used for the discharge of passengers therefrom: