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TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Tim Heiman, Fire Chief DATE: September 9, 2025 SUBJECT: *Ord 25-479 Amend Chapter 13 of the City of Oshkosh Municipal Code Pertaining to Fire Prevention and Protection to Adopt Updated Provisions from the International Fire Code and Clarify Provisions Pertaining to Responsibility for Compliance and Fireworks

BACKGROUND

The State of Wisconsin allows municipalities to adopt by ordinance a model fire code and additional requirements that are equivalent to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire code.  The City of Oshkosh has previously adopted the provisions of the International Fire Code (IFC) 2015.

ANALYSIS

The proposed ordinance will update the version of the IFC for use within the city for the use, operation, and maintenance of public buildings and places of employment from the currently used 2015 to the 2021 version.  The International Fire Code is developed by the International Code Council and integrates with the building codes, including the International Building Code, which is also adopted by State law in Wisconsin, as well as addressing fire prevention and protection issues.  The IFC addresses minimum fire safety requirements for new and existing buildings and facilities, and establishes safe storage requirements and processes for various hazards and materials.   As staff reviewed the ordinance for updating, it was also noted that there was not a clear statement of precedence of which codes would apply in the existing ordinance, so language was added to Section 13-6 to clarify that the intention of the code is that the provisions of the IFC shall apply, with state statutes and administrative codes applying only in those circumstances specifically noted within the code or to which the IFC does not apply.   Language was also added in new section 13-2.2 clarifying who is responsible for compliance with the fire code.   In most instances, the owner of a property will be responsible for code compliance; however the section does allow an enforcement official to exercise discretion and issue a correction notice or citation to another party if the enforcement official determines that person is responsible for the condition or violation.   Language was added to clarify the priority of city ordinance provisions in relation to smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detector regulations. Finally, staff recommends revisions to the regulations for fireworks and fireworks displays to clarify current provisions, adopt the provisions of the IFC pertaining to safety practices pertaining to fireworks and to clarify permit requirements for fireworks displays.   These proposed amendments do not change any current practices pertaining to fireworks regulations, inspections, or display permits but provide greater clarity to those provisions.

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no fiscal impact to the proposed amendment.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Council approve the proposed ordinance.

Attachments Ord 25-479 Fire Code updates - clean version Fire Code updates - redline

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