General Authority and Requirements
Columbus City Codes § 2501.04
in effect2501.04 - General Authority and Requirements
2501.04.1 Rules and regulations. The fire code official shall have authority as may be necessary in the interest of public safety, health and general welfare to promulgate rules and regulations, to interpret and implement the provisions of the Columbus Fire Prevention Code, to secure the intent thereof and to designate requirements applicable because of climatic or other conditions but no such rules shall have the effect of waiving any fire safety requirements specifically provided in the Columbus Fire Prevention Code, or violating accepted engineering practice involving public safety.
2501.04.2 Right of entry. Whenever necessary for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this code, or whenever the fire code official has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in any structure or upon any premises, any condition which makes such structure or premises unsafe, the fire code official may enter such structure or premises at all reasonable times to inspect the same or to perform any duty imposed upon the fire code official by this code; provided that if such structure or premises be occupied, the fire code official shall first present proper credentials and request entry. If such entry is refused, the fire code official shall have recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure entry.
2501.04.3 Special fire protection requirements. When adequate protection is not being provided in a building, structure, or premises as herein required or where such fire protection is necessary due to hazardous or dangerous conditions involving the occupancy of a building or structure, special fire protection equipment shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of this code and the building code.
2501.04.3.1 Special fire protection requirements. The fire code official may survey and inspect all structures and premises as often as may be necessary for the purpose of determining the adequacy of the fire protection equipment in the structures or on the premises
2501.04.3.2 Inadequate protection. If the fire code official determines that the fire protection equipment provided in the structure or on the premises is inadequate due to the fire hazard involved, or that required fire protection equipment has not been provided in the structure or on the premises, then the fire code official shall specify and order suitable fire protection equipment to be provided.
2501.04.3.3 Protection equipment. Such fire protection equipment may consist of private hydrants, automatic fire alarm systems, automatic sprinkler or water spray systems, standpipe systems and hose, fixed or portable fire extinguishers of a type suitable for the probable class of fire, manual or automatic covers, or carbon dioxide or other special fire extinguishing systems.
2501.04.3.4 Hazardous operations. In especially hazardous operations fire protection equipment of more than one type or special systems may be required.
2501.04.4 Technical assistance. To determine the acceptability of technologies, processes, products, facilities, materials and uses attending the design, operation or use of a Mobile Food Unit, vehicle, building or premises subject to inspection by the fire code official, the fire code official is authorized to require the owner or owner's authorized agent to provide, without charge to the jurisdiction, a technical opinion and report. The opinion and report shall be prepared by a qualified engineer, specialist, laboratory or fire safety specialty organization acceptable to the fire code official and shall analyze the fire safety properties of the design, operation or use of the building or premises and the facilities and appurtenances situated thereon, to recommend necessary changes. The fire code official is authorized to require design submittals to be prepared by, and bear the stamp of a registered design professional.
2501.04.5 Modifications. The fire code official may modify any of the provisions of the Columbus Fire Prevention Code, except those provisions of the Ohio Fire Code which have been adopted by the Columbus Fire Prevention Code, upon application in writing by the responsible person, or his duly authorized agent, when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the code, provided that the spirit of the code shall be observed, public safety secured, and substantial justice done. The particulars of such modification when granted or allowed and the decision of the fire code official thereon shall be entered upon the records of the Fire Prevention Bureau and a signed copy shall be furnished the applicant.
2501.04.5.1 Columbus fire prevention code modification request. A person requesting a modification of the Columbus Fire Prevention Code shall be required to pay a fee according to the current fee schedule in order to adequately compensate the division of fire for research and study of the modification request, and to ascertain that any modification allowed would not be detrimental to public safety.
2501.04.6 Authority at fires and emergencies. The fire chief or his authorized representative shall be in charge at the scene of a fire or other emergency involving the protection of life and/or property, and shall remain in charge until authority is relinquished.
2501.04.6.1 Unlawful continuance. No person shall refuse to leave, interfere with the evacuation of other occupants, or continue any operation after having been given an evacuation order except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition.
2501.04.6.2 Interfering with Fire Division members, fire apparatus. No person shall injure, deface or in any manner destroy any city fire apparatus, nor shall any person hinder or obstruct any fire company, or any member thereof, from freely passing along the streets of the city to or from a fire, nor in any manner hinder or prevent any of the fire companies, or any member of the same, from operating at any fire.
2501.04.6.3 False alarm of fire. It shall be unlawful for any person to give or to assist in giving a false alarm of fire, or to proclaim that any fire is extinguished when it is not.
2501.04.6.4 Tampering with fire alarm box. It shall be unlawful for any person to tamper with any fire alarm box or attachment except when necessary for the purpose of giving or turning in an alarm of fire or other emergency.
2501.04.6.5 Evacuation. When there is actual or immediate potential danger to the occupants or those in the proximity of any building, structure, or premises including and not limited to unsafe structural conditions, inadequacy of any means of egress, serious hazard, improper use, occupancy, or maintenance, the presence of explosives, explosive fumes or vapors, or the presence of toxic fumes, gases or materials, the fire code official may order the immediate evacuation of said building, structure, or premises. All of the occupants so notified shall immediately leave the building, structure, or premises and persons shall not enter or reenter until authorized to do so by the fire code official when the actual or immediate potential danger is no longer present.
(Ord. No. 1652-2022, § 1, 10-17-2022)
Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT25FIPRCO_CH2501SCAD_2501.04GEAUREFetched: 10/27/2026