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Commerce City council makes residential fire sprinklers optional for new single‑family homes after close vote
Summary
After extensive public testimony from firefighters and builders, Commerce City Council voted 5–3 on Nov. 17 to make required residential fire sprinklers optional for new single‑family detached homes and duplexes, citing housing affordability concerns and city infrastructure limits.
Commerce City Council voted 5–3 on Nov. 17 to amend the city code so that residential fire sprinklers are optional — rather than mandatory — for new single‑family detached homes and duplexes.
The change to Ordinance 27‑32 came after hours of public comment and technical questions for staff and the South Adams County Fire Prevention Bureau. Supporters of keeping the mandate, including Division Chief Jay Wilmot and Patrick Haney of the National Fire Sprinkler Association, urged the council to retain the requirement for life‑safety reasons. Wilmot said the measure "is a growing trend" among Colorado jurisdictions and argued that "we can't afford to bring the level of public safety of…
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