§ 2501.06 — Inspections

2501.06 - Inspections

2501.06.1 Inspection authority. The fire code official may inspect all structures, premises and vehicles as often as may be necessary for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to be corrected any conditions liable to cause fire, contribute to the spread of fire, interfere with firefighting operations, endanger life or any violations of the provisions or intent of this code or any other ordinance affecting fire safety. 2501.06.2 Inspection referrals. The fire code official is directed to enforce the provisions of all city codes, other than the Columbus Fire Prevention Code, when an infraction comes to his attention. The fire code official shall carry out this directive by referring in writing any such code violation to the department or person having primary responsibility for enforcing that specific code. 2501.06.3 Coordinated inspections. Wherever in the enforcement of the Columbus Fire Prevention Code or another code or ordinance, the responsibility of more than one City of Columbus enforcement official may be involved, it shall be their duty to coordinate their inspections and administrative orders as fully as practicable so that the owners and occupants of the structure or premises shall not be subjected to visits by numerous inspectors nor multiple or conflicting orders. Whenever a fire inspector observes an apparent or actual violation of some provision of any ordinance or code of the city of Columbus, not within the fire inspector's authority to enforce, the fire inspector shall report the finding to the authority having jurisdiction in order that such authority may institute the necessary corrective measures. 2501.06.4 Special and requested inspections. 2501.06.4.1 Definition. A special inspection is an inspection performed during normal duty hours at an unscheduled time and at a responsible person's request, that is not required by this code. Normal duty hours for the Fire Prevention Bureau are from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays. 2501.06.4.2 Request. Any person requesting an special inspection for a building or premises under their control or any part thereof, shall make the request in writing on a form and in manner acceptable to the fire code official. 2501.06.4.3 Fee. Any person requesting a special inspection of a building or premises under their control or any part thereof, or other special services of whatever nature shall be charged a fee, as published in Appendix B of this code, for such special inspection on the basis of time consumed by each inspector or authorized person performing the inspection, at the rate indicated below: 1. Commercial Occupancies. Per current fee schedule. 2. Home Daycares. Per current fee schedule. 3. All Others Non-Commercial Occupancies. Per current fee schedule. 2501.06.4.4 Payment. Special inspection fees and trip charges must be paid in full prior to the inspection. Payment of these special inspection fees and trip charge entitles the requestor to an inspection, but not necessarily an approved inspection. 2501.06.5 After-hour inspections. 2501.06.5.1 Definition. After-hours inspection is an inspection performed during a time which falls outside the normal duty hours of the Fire Prevention Bureau. Normal duty hours for the Fire Prevention Bureau are from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays. Inspections shall be performed during Fire Prevention Bureau normal duty hours unless an after-hours and/or weekend inspection request is made. 2501.06.5.2 Request. Any person requesting an after-hours inspection for a building or premises under their control or any part thereof, shall make the request in writing on a form and in manner acceptable to the fire code official. 2501.06.5.3 Fee. Any person requesting an after-hour inspection of a building or premises under their control or any part thereof, or other special services of whatever nature shall be charged a fee for according to the current fee schedule. 2501.06.5.4 Payment. The after-hour fees must be paid in full prior to the inspection. Payment of these after-hour fees entitles the requestor to an inspection, but not necessarily an approved inspection.

(Ord. No. 1652-2022, § 1, 10-17-2022)