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Council asks staff, legal to revise inspection and certificate-of-occupancy rules after business complaints
Summary
Stafford council directed the fire chief, public works director and city attorney to draft ordinance and process changes after months-long delays, frequent rejections, and a sprinkler requirement that can trigger new sprinkler systems during modest tenant remodels.
The Stafford City Council on Oct. 1 directed staff and the city attorney to prepare changes to the citys inspection and certificate-of-occupancy (CO) procedures after business owners complained that the current rules and permitting process were delaying reopenings and renovations.
The issue was driven by presentations from the fire chief and council members who described frequent inspection failures tied to fire-alarm and sprinkler-system requirements and a city amendment to the 2015 International Fire Code that requires sprinklers for nonresidential buildings of 7,500 square feet or more. Council members said that the existing language can force landlords or small tenants into installing full-building sprinkler systems after minor interior remodels and that the application of the provision has created significant delays for…
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