FIRE SERVICE FEATURES

Columbus City Codes tit. 25, ch. 2505

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 2505.01 Scope.

2505.01 - Scope. This chapter of the Columbus Fire Prevention Code shall include in its entirety, and as changed from time to time, the OFC Article 5, OAC 1301:7-7-05, Fire Service Features. The following revisions and additions, if any apply to this Article. (Ord. No. 1652-2022, § 1, 10-17-2022)

Columbus City Codes § 2505.02 Revisions.

2505.02 - Revisions. (Reserved for future revisions.) (Ord. No. 1652-2022, § 1, 10-17-2022)

Columbus City Codes § 2505.03 Fire Apparatus Access Roads

2505.03 - Fire Apparatus Access Roads 2505.03.1 Apparatus access roads. This chapter of the Columbus Fire Prevention Code shall include in its entirety, and as changed from time to time, the Ohio Fire Code Appendix D, Fire Apparatus Access Roads. 2505.03.2 Required access for fire apparatus. All premises which the division of fire may be called upon to protect in case of fire and which are not readily accessible from public roads shall be provided with suitable gates, access roads, and fire lanes so that all buildings on the premises are accessible to fire apparatus. 2505.03.2.1 Determination. The fire code official shall determine whether or not a building is readily accessible from public roads. 2505.03.2.2 Maintenance. The designation, use, and maintenance of fire lanes or access roads on private property shall be accomplished as specified by the fire code official. 2505.03.2.3 Obstruction. It shall be unlawful for any person to park motor vehicles on, or otherwise obstruct, any fire lane or access road. The property owner is responsible to maintain fire lanes and access roads accessible at all times. (Ord. No. 1652-2022, § 1, 10-17-2022)

Columbus City Codes § 2505.04 Access to Building Openings and Roofs

2505.04 - Access to Building Openings and Roofs 2505.04.1 Tenant identification. Tenant identification shall be provided for secondary exits from occupied tenant spaces that lead directly to the exterior of the building or egress corridor in multi-tenant buildings. Tenant identification shall be posted on the exterior side of the exit or exit access door and shall identify the business name and address using a minimum of 4 inch plainly legible letters and numbers that contrast with their background. (Ord. No. 1652-2022, § 1, 10-17-2022)

Columbus City Codes § 2505.05 Premises Identification

2505.05 - Premises Identification (Reserved for future revisions) (Ord. No. 1652-2022, § 1, 10-17-2022)

Columbus City Codes § 2505.06 Key Boxes

2505.06 - Key Boxes 2505.06.1 Key box emergency access system. Unless otherwise provided, where access to or within a structure or an area is restricted because of secured openings or access points, the installation of a key box to provide emergency access is required. 2505.06.1.1 Where required. Key box emergency access system. The following property types, property descriptions, or areas within a structure or other building must have a key box system to enable rapid access to areas restricted in the event of a fire, rescue, or medical emergency. 2505.06.1.2 Use groups. Use and occupancy groups A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R1, R2, S, and U when protected by an automatic alarm system or automatic fire suppression system. 2505.06.1.3 Shared entrance. Multi-tenant structures and multi-residential structures that have restricted access through locked doors to a common corridor with access to individual office space or living units, including office buildings, live-work units, senior citizen apartment or condominium complexes. 2505.06.1.4 Gated property. Properties or areas protected by a locked gate or security fence and where the locked gate or security fence restricts access to the area. 2505.06.1.5 Construction sites. Construction sites, which are secured by a locked gate or security fence, for the duration of construction or until the locked gate or security fence is removed. 2505.06.1.6 On-site security. Any premises that has twenty-four-hour on-site security personnel with access to restricted areas may be exempt from the requirement to install and maintain a key box emergency access system if the fire code official determines that on-site security is able to provide emergency access to restricted areas on the premises. 2505.06.1.7 Location. A key box emergency access system must be placed near the primary access point to a restricted area or at another appropriate location determined by the fire code official. 2505.06.1.8 Guidelines. In order to uniformly facilitate rapid access in emergency circumstances, the fire code official will designate by rule and regulation the key box emergency access system that shall be installed and the specific parameters of installation. This rule and regulation shall be reviewed every three years. 2505.06.1.9 New occupancies. All new occupancies, which are subject to the requirements of this section, must be compliant with this section before occupancy takes place. 2505.06.1.10 Existing occupancies. All existing occupancies, which are subject to the requirements of this section, shall comply no later than January 1, 2022. 2505.06.2 Elevator Lobby Key Box. When a building contains an elevator, the keys for the elevator doors and fire fighter service key shall be maintained in an elevator lobby key box approved by the fire code official. 2505.06.2.1 On-site security. Any premises that has twenty-four-hour on-site security personnel with access to elevator keys may be exempt from the requirement to install and maintain Elevator Lobby Key Box if the fire code official determines that on-site security is able to provide hazardous material information. 2505.06.2.2 Location. An Elevator Lobby Key Box must be placed in each elevator lobby or at another safe and appropriate location determined by the fire code official. 2505.06.2.3 Guidelines. In order to uniformly facilitate rapid access in emergency circumstances, the fire code official will designate by rule and regulation the Elevator Lobby Key Box that shall be installed and the specific parameters of installation. This rule and regulation shall be reviewed every three years. 2505.06.2.4 New occupancies. All new occupancies, which are subject to the requirements of this section, must be compliant with this section before occupancy takes place. 2505.06.2.5 Existing occupancies. All existing occupancies, which are subject to the requirements of this section, shall comply no later than January 1, 2022. 2505.06.3 FDC security plugs. When a building is protected by a sprinkler or standpipe system with an exterior fire department connection, security plugs, approved by the fire code official, shall be installed. 2505.06.3.1 New occupancies. All new occupancies, which are subject to the requirements of this section, must be compliant with this section before occupancy takes place. 2505.06.3.2 Existing occupancies. All existing occupancies, which are subject to the requirements of this section, shall comply no later than January 1, 2022 (Ord. No. 1652-2022, § 1, 10-17-2022)

Columbus City Codes § 2505.07 Fire Protection Water Supplies

2505.07 - Fire Protection Water Supplies 2505.07.1 Fire flow requirements. This chapter of the Columbus Fire Prevention Code shall include in its entirety, the Ohio Fire Code Appendix B, Fire-Flow Requirements for Buildings. 2505.07.2 Fire hydrant locations. This chapter of the Columbus Fire Prevention Code shall include in its entirety, and as changed from time to time, the Ohio Fire Code Appendix C, Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution Exception: Fire hydrants on public streets shall be spaced at 400' for residential areas and 300' for commercial areas. 2505.07.3 Fire protection water supply. The number, location, design and specifications of fire hydrants on water main extensions with the city shall be in accordance with plans approved by the Columbus Division of Fire and shall be installed under the supervision of the Columbus Division of Fire. 2505.07.4 Obstructing, using or defacing fire hydrants; permits, fees and charges. 2505.07.4.1 Obstructing. No person shall in any manner, obstruct or cause to be obstructed, any fire hydrant in the city, nor place or cause to be placed, in or upon any public place or thoroughfare of the city, within ten feet of any fire hydrant any articles, things, materials, dirt, snow or other substances so as to obstruct such hydrant. 2505.07.4.2 Hydrant use. No person other than employees of the City of Columbus, Division of Fire or Division of Water, shall connect any hose with or draw any water from, nor in any way molest or interfere with any of the fire hydrants of the city, without a permit approved by the fire code official and the administrator of the division of water, or their designees. 2505.07.4.3 Rule promulgation. The fire code official and the director of the department of public utilities 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 this chapter, to secure the intent thereof, to establish permit fees and to designate requirements applicable because of climatic or other conditions. 2505.07.4.4 Permit conditions. No person authorized to use a fire hydrant under a permit issued pursuant to 2505.07.4.2 shall violate any of the conditions of the permit or any of the rules or regulations pertaining to said permit. 2505.07.4.5 Damage. Except when authorized by a permit issued pursuant to 2505.07.2, no person shall paint, decorate, deface, or in any manner destroy any fire hydrant in the city. 2505.07.4.6 Unauthorized use. Whoever violates Section 2505.07.4.2 or 2505.07.4.5 of this code, including any prescribed rule or regulation authorized by this chapter, shall be charged for unauthorized use of water through a fire hydrant in the amount of three hundred dollars ($300.00) per occurrence plus the cost of repair for any damage to the fire hydrant. 2505.07.4.7 Fail to pay. No person shall fail to pay a charge levied pursuant to Section 2517.04(B). Further, no person shall violate Section 2505.07.4.2 more than two times in a one year period. 2505.07.4.8 Revocation. Any person who violates Section 2505.07.4 shall have all fire hydrant use permits revoked. In addition, no future fire hydrant use permits will be issued to said person. 2505.07.4.9 Violation. Any person who violates Section 2505.07.4.1, 2505.07.4.2, 2505.07.4.4, 2505.07.4.5, or 2505.07.4.6 of this code shall be subject to prosecution pursuant to Section 2501.32 of the Columbus City Code. 2505.07.5 Fire hydrants on water main extension, to be approved by division of fire. The number, location, design and specifications of fire hydrants on water main extensions with the city shall be in accordance with plans approved by the Columbus Division of Fire and shall be installed under the supervision of the Columbus Division of Fire which shall be notified of such installation at least 24 hours prior thereto. 2505.07.6 Maintenance of fire hydrants. The maintenance of fire hydrants lying within the corporate limits of the City of Columbus shall be the responsibility of the division of water, except those privately-owned hydrants installed as part of a private fire protection service pursuant to Section 1105.10. The Director of Public Utilities may also approve the maintenance of fire hydrants lying outside the City of Columbus corporate limits. All other hydrants outside the corporate limits, although attached to Columbus city water lines, are not part of the water main system and not within the maintenance responsibility of the City of Columbus, unless otherwise specifically provided for by contract or agreement. 2505.07.7 Hydrant approvals. The approval required by the fire code official by Sections 2505.01 through 2505.14 of this chapter concerning fire hydrants shall be in addition to any permits or approvals required by the city division of water, division of regulations, or any other city division. 2505.07.8 Private hydrant maintenance. The owner or other responsible person shall test, maintain, and mark privately-owned fire hydrants in accordance with this code. The maintenance of private hydrants shall include, but not be limited to winter inspections. These winter inspections are to be made in order to determine the condition of the hydrant and to be certain that all hydrants at each such location are pumped free of water above the valve prior to October 15 of each year. Maintenance, testing and inspection of private hydrants may only be performed by a contractor registered with the State of Ohio. 2505.07.8.1 Flow test. A flow test to determine gallons per minute of flow, static, and residual pressure shall be conducted every five years on all private hydrants. Results shall be provided to the fire code official. (Ord. No. 1652-2022, § 1, 10-17-2022; Ord. No. 1052-2025, § 1, 4-28-2025)

Columbus City Codes § 2505.08 Fire Command Center

2505.08 - Fire Command Center (Reserved for future revisions) (Ord. No. 1652-2022, § 1, 10-17-2022)

Columbus City Codes § 2505.09 Fire Protection and Utility Equipment Identification and Access

2505.09 - Fire Protection and Utility Equipment Identification and Access 2505.09.1 Hazardous materials cabinet. Where a building contains a business that is required to prepare or have available an emergency and hazardous chemical inventory from under Subtitle B Sections 311 and 312 of Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA Title III), the fire code official may require that the responsible party install a hazardous materials cabinet. 2505.09.1.1 On-site security. Any premises that has twenty-four-hour on-site security personnel with access to restricted areas may be exempt from the requirement to install and maintain Hazardous materials cabinet if the fire code official determines that on-site security is able to provide hazardous material information. 2505.09.1.2 Location. A Hazardous materials cabinet must be placed near the primary fire apparatus access point to the property or at another safe and appropriate location determined by the fire code official. 2505.09.1.3 Guidelines. In order to uniformly facilitate rapid access in emergency circumstances, the fire code official will designate by rule and regulation the hazardous materials cabinet that shall be installed and the specific parameters of installation. This rule and regulation shall be reviewed every three years. 2505.09.1.3.1 Contents. The hazardous materials cabinet shall contain the following information. 1. Emergency contact information for individuals responsible for the facility's operations; 2. Emergency contact information for companies that produced the hazardous materials stored at the facility 3. A scaled diagram of the facility which includes rooms with the corresponding number system, extinguishing systems including any exterior fire department valves or connections, drains, water supply sources, secondary containment vessels, ventilation systems, and private fire hydrant locations; 4. An alphabetical listing of hazardous materials, the location of each hazardous material, and the approximate quantity and strength of each hazardous material. 2505.09.1.4 New occupancies. All new occupancies, which are subject to the requirements of this section, must be compliant with this section before occupancy takes place. 2505.09.1.5 Existing occupancies. All existing occupancies, which are subject to the requirements of this section, shall comply no later than January 1, 2022. (Ord. No. 1652-2022, § 1, 10-17-2022)

Columbus City Codes § 2505.10 Emergency Responder Radio Coverage

2505.10 - Emergency Responder Radio Coverage 2505.10.1 Emergency responder radio system. In addition of the requirements of Ohio Fire Code all emergency responder radio system shall meet the requirements of NFPA 72 (2016 edition) and NFPA 1221 (2016 edition). (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_CH2505FISEFEFetched: 10/27/2026