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Pender County adopts updated Fire Prevention and Protection Ordinance, including 2018 State Fire Code appendices
Summary
The commission voted to adopt an updated county fire prevention ordinance incorporating the 2018 North Carolina Fire Prevention Code and appendices that set inspection frequencies, private hydrant standards, false‑alarm penalties and secondary access requirements for large subdivisions.
The Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt an updated Pender County Fire Prevention and Protection Ordinance that formally adopts the 2018 North Carolina Fire Prevention Code and its appendices.
Fire Marshal Amy Burton told the board the existing county ordinance is outdated for the county's current development pace and that adopting the appendices (including Appendix D for secondary access, Appendix C for private hydrant maintenance and NFPA inspection standards) will give staff enforceable, statewide‑recognized standards to improve emergency access and life‑safety outcomes in large new subdivisions.
"This update brings our county in line with modern standards," Burton said, explaining mandatory inspection frequencies for businesses and K‑12 schools, and the ability to require secondary access in large subdivisions where currently only recommendations exist.
Commissioners asked whether the updated rules would apply to plans already in the TRC (technical review committee) queue; staff said the ordinance will apply to projects moving forward but not retroactively to previously approved, fully permitted plans. The board voted in favor of adoption after a motion and second.
What’s next: Adoption allows the fire marshal's office to enforce updated hydrant spacing, false‑alarm penalties, inspection schedules and engineered standards for traffic calming devices, and staff will update permitting checklists to reflect the code adoption.
