Milton council passes ordinance on sprinkler systems

Milton Town Council, by a 5-1 vote Dec. 6, passed an ordinance mandating automatic fire sprinkler systems for all new one- or two-story homes that receive building permits after Friday, April 1, 2022.

The ordinance is part of an effort by the town to adhere to updated building code standards in the International Building Code. Previously, fire sprinkler systems were excepted from the town building code for one- or two-story residential detached dwellings. Milton Project Coordinator Tom Quass said sprinkler systems are already required for commercial properties.

Councilman Sam Garde said, “This is a big, big deal. It will increase the cost of construction and the order in which construction is done, because they will need to put sprinklers in before you can put ceilings and lights in. I personally support it. I think it’s an excellent enforcement of safety that we have some control over.”

Mayor Ted Kanakos was very supportive of the ordinance.

“It’s good for us. It’s good for the people,” he said.

Councilwoman Randi Meredith, the only no vote, was less convinced, saying sprinkler systems accidentally going off could cause significant damage to a home. She said she wanted to see data on how often sprinkler systems malfunction before moving forward.

Originally, the ordinance called for sprinkler systems to be installed in homes with building permits issued after Saturday, Jan. 1. At first, Garde wanted to table the measure for additional work on the ordinance language, saying a Jan. 1 date did not give a lot of time before sprinkler systems would be required. However, he was convinced to vote for it when the town administration agreed to move the date back to April 1. The ordinance would not apply to developments that already have site-plan or master-plan approval, or are currently in phased building, such as Heritage Creek and Cannery Village Phase IV. The later date would also allow for training town staff. 

Town Manager Kristy Rogers said, “We’re comfortable with an April 1 effective date, realizing anyone in the process of building plans at this point is too late. An April deadline would allow that.”