Council preliminarily adopts updated fire code, designates fire marshal and city manager as fire official

At first reading the Belgrade City Council preliminarily adopted Ordinance 2025-11, a package that updates the city's fire code by adopting the International Fire Code, designates the city manager as the administrative/fire official, and creates a fire marshal position to enforce the code. The council set a public hearing for Nov. 3, 2025.

City Attorney (presenting the item) said the change brings the city code up to modern standards and creates enforcement capacity: "This is a first reading of ordinance 20 25 11 updating the Belgrade City fire code, basically adopting the international fire code establishing the city manager as the administrative authority or the city fire official to designate the fire marshal position to enforce the Belgrade City Code," the attorney said. The attorney also noted the fireworks section was intentionally left unchanged: "There is no change to the fireworks amendment. That entire section is just the same as it was in the last code."

After calling for public comment on the ordinance (none were offered), a council member moved to preliminarily adopt the ordinance and schedule a public hearing for Nov. 3, 2025; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

Why it matters: Adopting the International Fire Code creates a consistent, modern regulatory framework for fire prevention and inspections and establishes local enforcement responsibility through the city manager and a fire marshal. The ordinance also updates associated business-license inspection language and certain zoning sections where necessary.

What comes next: The council scheduled a public hearing for Nov. 3, 2025, where the ordinance will be subject to public comment and potential amendment before final adoption.

Provenance: Topic introduced at SEG 156 and preliminary adoption motion at SEG 205.