Montrose County staff lay out options on adopting a fire code after guidance that county action could trigger state energy codes

Montrose County staff on Monday outlined two options for handling the county's fire code after the county's review found that adopting a countywide fire code could force adoption of newer energy codes.

Talmadge, the county planner leading the review, said the Montrose County Fire Protection District asked the county to adopt the International Fire Code (IFC) to give fire districts more enforcement authority. Talmadge said recent guidance from a WCCP meeting indicates a county adoption or amendment of the fire code "would require us to amend our IECC and adopt the 2021 or 2024 energy codes," which the county had previously tried to avoid in 2023.

That possibility led staff to recommend a narrower approach: adopt a resolution delegating authority to the five local fire protection districts so each district could decide whether and when to adopt the IFC. Jack, the county building official, expanded on practical concerns: some smaller and volunteer fire districts lack certified inspectors, staff capacity and enforcement resources to implement ongoing IFC inspections and maintenance requirements, and several districts cross county lines which complicates uniform countywide enforcement.

Commissioners pressed staff about the trade-offs. One commissioner noted that a countywide code makes more sense in a contiguous metro area, but Jack and Talmadge said Montrose County's mix of growing commercial development and largely volunteer rural districts means a one-size-fits-all approach could shift enforcement and funding burdens to the county.

Talmadge said the county could use memoranda of understanding (MOUs) or other agreements to preserve local enforcement roles and support smaller districts during any transition. Jack described alternatives such as third-party inspectors if districts lack certified staff, but he warned that procurement, funding and staffing questions remain unresolved.

The board did not take a final vote at the work session. Staff said they favor preparing a resolution that delegates authority to fire districts and includes MOUs or provisions to help with enforcement and appeals, but they acknowledged open issues around certification, inspections, staffing and the potential timing and cost implications for property owners.

The county plans to return with a refined recommendation that clarifies enforcement responsibilities, potential third-party options, and how a resolution would or would not trigger IECC changes.