HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 2025-5014_amends ch. 38 adopting the International Fire CodeORDINANCE NO. 2025-5014
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 38 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF
THE CITY OF LA PORTE BY AMENDING CHAPTER 38 "FIRE PREVENTION AND
PROTECTION," ARTICLE III "STANDARDS", DIVISION 1 "GENERALLY",
SECTION 38-101 "FIRE CODE ADOPTED" BY ADOPTING THE 2024 EDITION OF
THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE, TOGETHER WITH ALL LOCAL
AMENDMENTS THERETO; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; CONTAINING A
SAVINGS CLAUSE; FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW;
PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING THAT ANY PERSON
VIOLATING THE TERMS OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE DEEMED GUILTY OF
A MISDEMEANOR AND UPON CONVICTION SHALL BE FINED IN A SUM NOT TO
EXCEED TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS; PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF
THE CAPTION HEREOF; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS:
Section 1. Chapter 38, "Fire Prevention and Protection", Article III "Standards", Division 1
"Generally", Section 38-101 "Fire Code Adopted", of the Code of Ordinances of the
City of La Porte, Texas, is hereby amended and shall hereafter read as follows, to -
wit:
"Section 38-101. Fire code adopted.
The International Fire Code, 2024 Edition, together with all local amendments thereto,
which are all on file in the office of the city secretary, is hereby adopted as the fire code
of the city, incorporated by reference in this article, and made a part hereof, as fully as if
copied at length herein verbatim."
Section 2. The City Council of the City of La Porte, Texas, herby adopts local amendments to the
International Fire Code, 2024 Edition, which are on file in the office of the city
secretary, and, are attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated by reference for all
purposes.
Section 3. All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with the terms of this ordinance are
hereby repealed; provided, however, that such repeal shall be only to the extent of
such inconsistency and in all other respects this ordinance shall be cumulative of
other ordinances regulating and governing the subject matter covered by this
ordinance.
Section 4.
If any section, sentence, phrase, clause, or any part of any section, sentence, phrase,
or clause, of this Ordinance shall, for any reason, be held invalid, such invalidity shall
not affect the remaining portions of this Ordinance, and it is hereby declared to the
intention of this City Council to have passed each section, sentence, phrase, or clause,
or part thereof, irrespective of the fact that any other section, sentence, phrase, or
clause, or part thereof, may be declared invalid.
Section 5. Any person, as defined in Section 1.07 (27), Texas Penal Code, who shall violate any
provision of the ordinance, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon
conviction shall be punished by a fine not to exceed TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS
($2,000.00).
Section 6. The City Council officially finds, determines, recites and declares that a sufficient
written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of this meeting of the City Council
is posted at a place convenient to the public at the City Hall of the city for the time
required by law preceding this meeting, as required by the Chapter 551, Tx. Gov't
Code; and that this meeting has been open to the public as required by law at all times
during which this ordinance and the subject matter thereof has been discussed,
considered and formally acted upon. The City Council further ratifies, approves and
confines such written notice and the contents and posting thereof.
Section 7. This ordinance shall be effective sixty (60) days after its passage and approval. The
City Secretary shall give notice of the passage of this ordinance by causing the
caption hereof to be published in the official newspaper of the City of La Porte, Texas,
at least once within ten (10) days after the passage of this ordinance.
PASSED AND APPROVED this, the 8`1' day of December 2025.
CITY OF LA PORTS, TEXA
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Rick Helton, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
oodw.:R�.y' & Clark T. Askins, City Attorney
2
EXHIBIT A
LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO THE
2024 EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE
The following represents local amendments to the 2024 Edition of the International Fire Code,
adopted by the City Council of the City of La Porte on December, 8, 2025; in Ordinance 2025-
5014. References are to additions, deletions, amendments, or replacement of 2024 Edition of the
International Fire Code sections. Section numbers correspond to the numbering in the 2024
Edition of the International Fire Code.
CHAPTER 1 - ADMINISTRATION
110.4 Violation penalties.
Amend by deleting this section and adding a new paragraph.
Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the
requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair or do work in violation of the
approved construction documents or directive of the code official, shall be guilty of a
violation and punishable by a fine. Each day that a violation continues after due notice
has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.
112.4 Failure to comply.
Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work
order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or
unsafe condition, shall be liable to a fine of not more than $500.00 dollars. Each and
every day shall constitute a separate violation. Each day that a violation continues after
due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.
CHAPTER 3 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
SECTION 307 Open Burning, Recreational Fires and Portable Outdoor Fireplaces.
Amend by deleting this section and adding a new paragraph.
307.1 General. A person shall not kindle or maintain or authorize to be kindled or
maintained any open burning unless conducted and approved in accordance with the
following Sections.
307.2 Permit required. A permit shall be obtained from the fire code official in accordance with
Section 105.6 prior to kindling a fire for recognized silvicultural or range or wildlife
management practices, prevention or control of disease or pests, or a bonfire. Application
for such approval shall only be presented by and permits issued to the owner of the land on
which the fire is to be kindled.
Exhibit "A"
EXHIBIT A
307.3 Prohibited open burning. Open burning shall be prohibited when atmospheric conditions
or local circumstances make such fires hazardous and the following is prohibited at all
times from being burned in the City of La Porte.
307.3.1 Yard Waste (defined as, but not limited to: leaves/pine straw, rakings, shrub
trimmings, grass clippings, palm fronds, and/or brush).
307.3.2 Tree and Tree Cutting Debris (defined as, but not limited to: trees, Christmas trees,
tree stumps, and/or tree limbs).
307.3.3 Land Clearing Debris (defined as, but not limited to: uprooted or cleared vegetation
in connection with construction for buildings and rights-of-way; land development;
or mineral operations).
307.3.4 Bonfires are not permitted without a permit from the fire code official in accordance
with Section 105.6 prior to kindling.
307.4 Open Burning not requiring a Permit. Open burning shall be prohibited when
atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous. The following is
permitted to be burned in the City of La Porte without a permit from the fire code official.
307.4.1 Recreational fires. Recreational fires shall not be conducted within 15 feet of a
structure or combustible material. Conditions that could cause a fire to spread
within 15 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition.
307.4.2 Portable outdoor fireplaces and Fire Pits. Portable outdoor fireplaces shall be
used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and shall not be operated
within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material.
307.4.3 Recreational and Portable outdoor fireplace size. The fire pit area shall not
exceed a total of 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height and all burning material and
flame is to be contained inside of the fire pit area.
307.5 Authorization. Where required by state or local law or regulations, open burning shall
only be permitted with prior approval from the state or local air and water quality
management authority, provided that all conditions specified in the authorization are
followed.
307.6 Extinguishment authority. Where open burning creates or adds to a hazardous situation,
or a required permit for open burning has not been obtained, the fire code official is
authorized to order the extinguishment of the open burning operation.
307.6.1 The burning must not cause a nuisance to surrounding people, properties and / or
roadways. Any and all Fires used for Recreation, Ceremonies, Cooking and / or
Warmth shall be promptly and completely extinguished once notified to do so by
any Fire Code Official, Police Officer, Code Enforcement Officer and / or Fire
Fighter. Said fires shall remain extinguished for no less than 24-hours.
307.7 Location. The location for open burning shall be not less than 15 feet from any structure,
and provisions shall be made to prevent the fire from spreading to within 15 feet of any
structure.
307.8 Attendance. Open burning, bonfires, recreational fires and use of portable outdoor
fireplaces shall be constantly attended by a responsible, non-impaired adult until the fire is
extinguished. Not fewer than one portable fire extinguisher complying with Section 906
with a minimum 4-A rating or other approved on-site fire extinguishing equipment, such as
dirt, sand, water barrel, garden hose or water truck, shall be available for immediate
utilization.
EXHIBIT A
CHAPTER 5 - FIRE SERVICE FEATURES
503.3 Marking
Amend paragraph 503.3 Marking, to read as follows:
A. The Fire Marshal of the City of La Porte or designee is hereby authorized to designated
fire lanes/fire zones on the property of shopping centers, nursing homes, hospitals,
apartment complexes, town home complexes, schools and any other locations that he has
deemed necessary to have fire lanes/fire zones.
B. The designation by the Fire Marshal of such lanes/fire zones shall never be held to make
the City of La Porte responsible for the maintenance of such lanes on private property,
but the owner of such property shall continue to be responsible for the maintenance for
such areas.
C. Upon designation of such fire lane/fire zones pursuant to this code, the Fire Marshal shall
give notice of such designation to the owner of such property, directing the owner to
cause signs to be posted and/or curbs to be painted and/or stenciled.
D. The required signs and/or painted curb shall read "FIRE LANE" or, "FIRE ZONE". The
letter size should be not less than 3" in height and 1/2" in width.
E. The sign shall be a metal sign of standard size, with a weather resistant white background
with red letters. The mounting and height information can be obtained from the City of
La Porte Public Works and/or City of La Porte Police Department. The sign shall be
installed not less than every 20 feet.
F. The curb shall be painted "Red" in color and/or the stenciled information, "FIRE ZONE"
and/or "FIRE LANE" shall be stenciled in "White" colored letters. The stencil should not
be less than 20 feet, apart on the curb.
G. It is hereby declared to be unlawful to obstruct in any manner, including parking or
standing any attended or unattended vehicle in any fire lane/fire zone as defined hereof,
where the signs have been erected or the curbs have been painted and stenciled including
pre-existing fire lane/fire zones with visibly erected signs and/or stenciled curbs reading
“FIRE LANE” or “FIRE ZONE”
EXCEPTIONS:
1) Any authorized emergency vehicle conducting official emergency business.
2) Any marked vehicle of the United States Postal Service officially dispatching mail or
any marked vehicle of a Parcel Post Delivery Service officially dispatching Parcel
Post.
3) Any armored vehicle officially dispatching or picking up currency.
EXHIBIT A
503.7 Violations
Amend by adding a new subsection 503.7 to read as follows:
It is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person, without lawful authority of the Fire
Marshal to attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down, or remove any sign
and/or painted curb designating a fire lane/fire zone that has been erected and/or stenciled
under the term of this code.
The Fire Marshal, any duly authorized representative, and/or any peace officer of the
State of Texas may issue a summons or notice to appear in answer to a charge of any
violation of this code. Such summons shall be issued on an official form (ticket book)
acceptable to the City of La Porte.
Any person found guilty of a violation of this code shall, upon conviction, be subject to a
fine ranging from one dollar to two thousand dollars, as set by the City of La Porte
Municipal Court. Each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
No owner, manager or person in charge of any premises served by a required fire
lane/fire zone shall abandon or close any such fire lane/fire zone without permission of
the Fire Marshal or designee.
507.5.1 Where Required
Amend by deleting the existing paragraph and replace with the following paragraph:
All required water mains and fire hydrants shall be installed as follows:
Residential area fire hydrants shall be installed on a 6-inch or larger approved water main
and placed so that no building is over 500 feet from a fire hydrant. Distance for hydrant
placements shall be measured at curb line and/or access corridor.
EXCEPTIONS:
A. When in the opinion of the fire chief and fire marshal a water main and/or
fire hydrant is not necessary due to the existence of built-in fire protection
system(s); or
B. When the Fire Chief and Fire Marshal have been notified in writing that
pending water mains and fire hydrants are being installed in the vicinity,
consistent with the terms of this code.
Commercial and industrial area fire hydrants shall be installed on an 8-inch or larger
approved water main and shall be placed so that no part of any building is over 300 feet
from a fire hydrant. Distance for hydrant placements shall be measured at curb line
and/or access corridor and shall follow the Fire Apparatus route.
EXHIBIT A
EXCEPTIONS:
A. When in the opinion of the Fire Chief and Fire Marshal a water main and/or
the fire hydrant is not necessary due to the existence of built-in fire
protection system(s); or
B. When the Fire Chief and Fire Marshal have been notified in writing that
pending water mains and fire hydrants are being installed in that vicinity,
consistent with the terms of this code.
CHAPTER 6 - BUILDING SERVICES AND SYSTEMS
Amend by adding new subsection
607.2.5 Plan Submittal Requirements
Pre-Engineered Systems - Plan submittal shall comply with the following requirements
for Pre-Engineered Systems;
a. Be planned by a Type PL licensee or a Texas Registered Professional Engineer.
All shop drawings must bear the signature of a Type PL licensee, his license
number, and the certificate-of-registration number of the registered firm or a
Texas Registered Professional Engineer seal.
If a PE is used, the PE shall provide written documentation to this
office as to his knowledge that he has reviewed the Pre-Engineered
System and that the system meets all applicable City of La Porte
Fire Codes and any applicable State Codes.
b. Designer shall provide this office with written documentation (Certification)
from the manufacturer stating you have been trained by the manufacturer and that
they certify you in the Design of said equipment and are current with the
certification.
c. Installer shall provide this office with written documentation (Certification)
from the manufacturer stating you have been trained by the manufacturer and that
they certify you in the Installation of said equipment and are current with the
certification.
EXHIBIT A
CHAPTER 9 - FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
901 General
Amend by adding new subsections
901.5.2 Required attendance for Installation acceptance testing.
A person who is employed by the Registered Firm to which the plans have been approved
and issued too and holds a current Responsible Managing Employee (RME) License by
the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office shall be onsite during all phases of
installation and during the Fire Marshal’s inspection. The onsite RME shall only
operate under the appropriate “Type” of RME License issued by the State.
901.5.3 Required Documentation for Installation acceptance testing.
The Fire Marshal’s Office approved set of Fire Sprinkler Plans, manufacture's product
data sheets on all equipment being installed, and the installation permit are to be on site
for all Fire Marshal’s Office inspections. The On-Site Installer shall have a current State
license, on his person, while on the job site.
901.5.3 Required Actions for Installation acceptance testing.
The fire sprinkler piping shall not be covered up prior to the Fire Marshal’s Office visual
inspections of the piping. If the piping is covered, and the inspectors cannot inspect as is
required by Fire Code, all of the obstructions will be required to be removed.
903.2.3 Group E.
Delete paragraph and substitute with the following:
An automatic sprinkler system must be provided throughout all Group E occupancies.
The use of fire walls does not establish a separate building for purposes of this section.
Exceptions:
1. Buildings with E occupancies having an occupant load of 49 or less.
EXHIBIT A
903.2.6 Group I.
Delete paragraph and substitute with the following:
An automatic sprinkler system must be provided throughout all Institutional Group
occupancies. The use of fire walls does not establish a separate building for purposes of
this section.
Exceptions:
1. Buildings with I occupancies having an occupant load of less than 5.
903.2.8 Group R
Delete paragraph and substitute with the following:
An Automatic sprinkler system or a residential sprinkler system installed in accordance
with section 903.3 must be provided throughout all buildings with a group R fire area.
Group R shall have 100% automatic sprinkler coverage throughout all buildings and
spaces to include, but not limited to: bathrooms, closets, porches, porte-cocheres and/or
attics.
Exceptions:
1. One-family dwellings (single family) Group R occupancies.
2. Two-family dwellings (townhouse) occupancies with no more than two attached
units that are divided by 2-hour fire walls.
907.2.3 Group E
Delete paragraph and substitute with the following:
An automatic Fire Alarm system must be provided throughout all Group E occupancies.
The use of fire walls does not establish a separate building for purposes of this section.
Exceptions:
1. Buildings with E occupancies having an occupant load of 49 or less.
EXHIBIT A
CHAPTER 11 - CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS
Delete Section
1103.5.1 Group A-2. Where alcoholic beverages are consumed in a Group A-2
occupancy having an occupant load of 300 or more, the fire area containing the Group A-
2 occupancy shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with
Section 903.3.1.1.
Appendix A; Board of Appeals
Adopt and Delete section in its entirety and substitute with the following:
The Board of Appeals shall be governed and formed in accordance to the La Porte,
Texas, Code of Ordinances, Subpart A - General Ordinances, Chapter 38 - Fire
Prevention and Protection, Article V. Fire Code Review Board.
Appendix B; Fire Flow Requirements for Buildings
Adopt section in its entirety
Appendix C; Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution
Adopt section in its entirety
Appendix D; Fire Apparatus Access Roads
Adopt section in its entirety
Appendix E; Hazard Categories
Adopt section in its entirety
Appendix F; Hazard Ranking
Adopt section in its entirety
Appendix G; Cryogenic Fluids—Weight and Volume Equivalents
Adopt section in its entirety
EXHIBIT A
Appendix H; Hazardous Materials Management Plan (HMMP) and Hazardous Materials
Inventory Statement (HMIS) Instructions
Adopt section in its entirety
Appendix I; Fire Protection Systems - Noncompliant Conditions
Adopt section in its entirety
Appendix J; Building Information Sign
Delete section in its entirety
Appendix K; Construction Requirements for Existing Ambulatory Care Facilities
Adopt section in its entirety
Appendix L; Requirements for Fire Fighter Air Replenishment Systems
Delete section in its entirety
Appendix M; High-Rise Buildings—Retroactive Automatic Sprinkler Requirement
Delete section in its entirety
Appendix N; Indoor Trade Shows and Exhibitions
Adopt section in its entirety