ORDINANCE NO. BL2012-206

An ordinance amending Section 10.64.015 of the Metropolitan Code pertaining to fire flow requirements for single-family homes constructed on larger lots in the General Services District.

WHEREAS, Tennessee Code Annotated § 68-120-101 gives local governments the choice of adopting one of certain listed nationally recognized fire codes or being governed by statewide minimum standards established by the state fire marshal; and

WHEREAS, on August 6, 2010, the Metropolitan Council enacted BL2008-350, which, in part, adopted the 2006 International Fire Code for use throughout the Metropolitan Government; and

WHEREAS, Tennessee Code Annotated § 68-120-101 also gives local governments the option to completely opt out, upon a two-thirds vote of the local legislative body, from implementing any fire code relative to one-family and two-family residences; and

WHEREAS, on September 15, 2010, the Metropolitan Council enacted BL2009-509, which expanded the available means to comply with fire-flow requirements for one-family dwellings located within the General Services District constructed after May 30, 2009 on a lot of one acre in size or more; and

WHEREAS, complying with the existing fire-flow requirements is a significant financial burden and is preventing the improvement of properties in the General Services District; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper for single family homes on large lots in the General Services District to be completely exempted from the fire-flow requirements.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That Section 10.64.015 of the Metropolitan Code is amended by deleting the current subsection DD and substituting in lieu thereof the following subsection DD:

Section B105.1 of Appendix B is hereby amended by adding the following new exception No. 4.

B105.1 One- and two-family dwellings. Exception No. 4: One-family dwellings located within the General Services District (GSD) on a lot of one acre in size or more shall not be required to meet any fire-flow requirements, including the fire-flow requirements of Appendix B of the International Fire Code. In the event such a lot of one acre in size or more within the GSD is subdivided in the future, all dwellings constructed on the subdivided lots shall meet the fire flow requirements of Appendix B of the International Fire Code.

Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Walter Hunt