Groves Council adopts rewrite of fire-prevention code, removes local 2,000-sq-ft alarm trigger

Groves 'The Groves City Council voted Nov. 4 to adopt Ordinance 2024-26, updating the city's fire-prevention code to remove several local amendments and to align penalties and alarm rules with the model code.

The ordinance removes a local requirement that all fire-protection contractors register with the city, adds a residential-occupancy inspection fee, defines "false alarm," raises minimum penalties for violations to match neighboring cities, and eliminates a local bright-line rule that required fire alarm systems for commercial buildings of 2,000 square feet or larger.

Fire Marshal Boschberg, who guided council through the redline version, said most of the deletions are redundant with the model code and that removing local contractor registration will reduce administrative burdens because contractors already hold required state licenses. "There really isn't a reason to have the companies register with us," Boschberg said, adding that plan submittal fees and state license documentation already let staff verify credentials.

Boschberg also explained why the city is revising its false-alarm approach: the ordinance adds a definition of "false alarm" and a nuisance fee schedule keyed to repeated incidents within a 12-month period, while allowing exceptions when property owners can show they are making a timely, documented effort to repair malfunctioning equipment. "If they've actually made a phone call and are making an effort, then we're not going to charge them," Boschberg said.

Businesses raised concerns about the prior 2,000-square-foot local threshold for alarms. Melissa Hoyt, a business owner who said she is considering relocating to a space with 2,269 square feet inside (about 2,400 square feet outside), asked whether the change would require unplanned costs for an alarm system. Boschberg said the 2,000-sq.-ft. provision was a unique Groves local amendment and that the proposed approach returns to hazard-based criteria in the model code so that decisions about alarms are based on occupancy type and hazard, not an arbitrary square-foot cutoff.

The update also adds enforcement tools for apparatus access: staff told council the ordinance would allow the city to cite the registered owner of vehicles parked in fire lanes and, in emergency situations, remove vehicles obstructing access. Boschberg said this change helps avoid delays when crews must clear a path for emergency apparatus.

Council members asked about legal exposure and costs for filtering network traffic to enforce the prohibition of certain apps on city devices (a related resolution on covered applications was adopted earlier in the meeting); staff said there is a law-enforcement exception and that filtering costs are currently expected to be minimal but may change in the future.

After questions from the council, the ordinance was placed for a vote and carried on a recorded voice vote.

The ordinance takes effect as provided in the city's adoption procedures; council did not add other conditions at the meeting. The council meeting then moved on to other agenda items.