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Council adopts ordinance requiring electronic Knox Box devices for new/changed properties
Summary
The council passed Ordinance 24‑12 to require electronic Knox Box (eKey) devices for new construction, renovations or ownership changes; staff said existing boxes are not subject to immediate retrofit and estimated about 110 boxes are in the city.
The South Ogden City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 24‑12 on Oct. 1, requiring that new, renovated or ownership‑changed properties install electronic Knox Box devices (often called eKey or EP devices) rather than traditional hard‑key Knox Boxes.
Warwick Fire Department Chief Storey told the council that the department’s recent equipment upgrade enables use of electronic keys and that the electronic boxes provide enhanced security and auditing: programmed access can time out so that a lost credential becomes unusable. “Looking at our Knox system, we have a 110 Knox boxes in the city right now,” Chief Storey said. He told the council existing boxes would not be forced to convert immediately, but the city could pursue grants later to assist widespread upgrades; staff estimated a core change could cost about $350 per box as a planning figure.
The ordinance language would require electronic boxes when a building is newly constructed, renovated, or changes ownership; staff said the change is aimed at improving access auditing and interagency cooperation with nearby departments that may adopt compatible systems. The council conducted a roll‑call vote and approved the ordinance.
