Utah Code § 15A-5-203 — Utah Code / Title 15A / Chapter 15A-5 / § 15A-5-203
§ 15A-5-203. Amendments and additions to IFC related to fire safety, building, and site requirements.
Status: in_force

7/1/2026 (1) For IFC, Chapter 5, Fire Service Features: (a) In IFC, Chapter 5, a new Section 501.5, Access grade and fire flow, is added as follows: "An authority having jurisdiction over a structure built in accordance with the requirements of the International Residential Code as adopted in the State Construction Code, may require an automatic fire sprinkler system for the structure only by ordinance and only if any of the following conditions exist: (i) the structure: (A) is located in an urban-wildland interface area as provided in the Utah Wildland Urban Interface Code adopted as a construction code under the State Construction Code; and (B) does not meet the requirements described in Utah Code, Subsection 65A-8-203(4)(f) and Utah Administrative Code, R652-122-1300, Minimum Standards for County Wildland Fire Ordinance; (ii) the structure is in an area where a public water distribution system with fire hydrants does not exist as required in Utah Administrative Code, R309-550-5, Water Main Design; (iii) the only fire apparatus access road has a grade greater than 10% for more than 500 continual feet; (iv) the total floor area of all floor levels within the exterior walls of the dwelling unit exceeds 10,000 square feet; or (v) the total floor area of all floor levels within the exterior walls of the dwelling unit is double the average of the total floor area of all floor levels of unsprinklered homes in the subdivision that are no larger than 10,000 square feet. (vi) Exception: A single family dwelling does not require a fire sprinkler system if the dwelling: (A) is located outside the wildland urban interface; (B) is built in a one-lot subdivision; and (C) has 50 feet of defensible space on all sides that limits the propensity of fire spreading from the dwelling to another property." (b) In IFC, Chapter 5, Section 503.4.1, is deleted. (c) In IFC, Chapter 5, Section 506.1, Where Required, is deleted and rewritten as follows: "Where access to or within a structure or an area is restricted because of secured openings or where immediate access is necessary for life-saving or fire-fighting purposes, the fire code official, after consultation with the building owner, may require a key box to be installed in an approved location. The key box shall contain keys to gain necessary access as required by the fire code official. For each fire jurisdiction that has at least one building with a required key box, the fire jurisdiction shall adopt an ordinance, resolution, or other operating rule or policy that creates a process to ensure that each key to each key box is properly accounted for and secure." (d) In IFC, Chapter 5, a new Section 507.1.1, Isolated one- and two-family dwellings, is added as follows: "Fire flow may be reduced for an isolated one- and two-family dwelling when the authority having jurisdiction over the dwelling determines that the development of a full fire-flow requirement is impractical." (e) In IFC, Chapter 5, a new Section 507.1.2, Pre-existing subdivision lots, is added as follows:"507.1.2 Pre-existing subdivision lots.The requirements for a pre-existing subdivision lot shall not exceed the requirements described in Section 501.5." (f) In IFC, Chapter 5, Section 507.5.1, here required, a new exception is added as follows: "3. One interior and one detached accessory dwelling unit on a single residential lot." (g) (i) IFC, Chapter 5, Section 510.1, Emergency responder communication coverage in new buildings, is amended by adding: "When required by the fire code official, unless the new building is a public school as that term is defined in Section 53G-9-205.1 or a private school, if determined by the fire code official to be necessary after construction of the new building is completed, then the fire code official shall require," at the beginning of the first paragraph. (ii) "For public and private schools, an initial radio coverage test must be conducted by a qualified professional using appropriate testing equipment, and a report of the results must be submitted to the fire code official. Subsequent routine testing may be conducted by the fire code official using basic equipment. The fire code official may require additional professional testing if routine testing indicates potential issues with radio coverage." (2) For IFC, Chapter 6, Building Services and Systems: (a) IFC, Chapter 6, Section 604.6.1, Elevator key location, is deleted and rewritten as follows: "Firefighter service keys shall be kept in a "Supra-Stor-a-key" elevator key box or similar box with corresponding key system that is adjacent to the elevator for immediate use by the fire department. The key box shall contain one key for each elevator, one key for lobby control, and any other keys necessary for emergency service. The elevator key box shall be accessed using a 6049 numbered key." (b) IFC, Chapter 6, Section 606.1, General, is amended as follows: On line three, after the word "Code", add the words "and NFPA 96." (c) IFC, Chapter 6, Section 606.2, a new Exception 5 is added as follows: "5. A Type 1 hood is not required for a cooking appliance in a microenterprise home kitchen, as that term is defined in Utah Code, Section 26B-7-401, for which the operator obtains a permit in accordance with Section 26B-7-416."7/1/2026 (1) For IFC, Chapter 5, Fire Service Features: (a) In IFC, Chapter 5, a new Section 501.5, Access grade and fire flow, is added as follows: "An authority having jurisdiction over a structure built in accordance with the requirements of the International Residential Code as adopted in the State Construction Code, may require an automatic fire sprinkler system for the structure only by ordinance and only if any of the following conditions exist: (i) the structure: (A) is located in an urban-wildland interface area as provided in the Utah Wildland Urban Interface Code adopted as a construction code under the State Construction Code; and (B) does not meet the requirements described in Utah Code, Subsection 65A-8-203(4)(f) and Utah Administrative Code, R652-122-1300, Minimum Standards for County Wildland Fire Ordinance; (ii) the structure is in an area where a public water distribution system with fire hydrants does not exist as required in Utah Administrative Code, R309-550-5, Water Main Design; (iii) the only fire apparatus access road has a grade greater than 10% for more than 500 continual feet; (iv) the total floor area of all floor levels within the exterior walls of the dwelling unit exceeds 10,000 square feet; or (v) the total floor area of all floor levels within the exterior walls of the dwelling unit is double the average of the total floor area of all floor levels of unsprinklered homes in the subdivision that are no larger than 10,000 square feet. (vi) Exception: A single family dwelling does not require a fire sprinkler system if the dwelling: (A) is located outside the wildland urban interface; (B) is built in a one-lot subdivision; and (C) has 50 feet of defensible space on all sides that limits the propensity of fire spreading from the dwelling to another property." (b) In IFC, Chapter 5, Section 503.4.1, is deleted. (c) In IFC, Chapter 5, Section 506.1, Where Required, is deleted and rewritten as follows: "Where access to or within a structure or an area is restricted because of secured openings or where immediate access is necessary for life-saving or fire-fighting purposes, the fire code official, after consultation with the building owner, may require a key box to be installed in an approved location. The key box shall contain keys to gain necessary access as required by the fire code official. For each fire jurisdiction that has at least one building with a required key box, the fire jurisdiction shall adopt an ordinance, resolution, or other operating rule or policy that creates a process to ensure that each key to each key box is properly accounted for and secure." (d) In IFC, Chapter 5, a new Section 507.1.1, Isolated one- and two-family dwellings, is added as follows: "Fire flow may be reduced for an isolated one- and two-family dwelling when the authority having jurisdiction over the dwelling determines that the development of a full fire-flow requirement is impractical." (e) In IFC, Chapter 5, a new Section 507.1.2, Pre-existing subdivision lots, is added as follows:"507.1.2 Pre-existing subdivision lots.The requirements for a pre-existing subdivision lot shall not exceed the requirements described in Section 501.5." (f) In IFC, Chapter 5, Section 507.5.1, here required, a new exception is added as follows: "3. One interior and one detached accessory dwelling unit on a single residential lot." (g) (i) IFC, Chapter 5, Section 510.1, Emergency responder communication coverage in new buildings, is amended by adding: "When required by the fire code official, unless the new building is a public school as that term is defined in Section 53G-9-205.1 or a private school, if determined by the fire code official to be necessary after construction of the new building is completed, then the fire code official shall require," at the beginning of the first paragraph. (ii) "For public and private schools, an initial radio coverage test must be conducted by a qualified professional using appropriate testing equipment, and a report of the results must be submitted to the fire code official. Subsequent routine testing may be conducted by the fire code official using basic equipment. The fire code official may require additional professional testing if routine testing indicates potential issues with radio coverage." (2) For IFC, Chapter 6, Building Services and Systems: (a) IFC, Chapter 6, Section 604.6.1, Elevator key location, is deleted and rewritten as follows: "Firefighter service keys shall be kept in a "Supra-Stor-a-key" elevator key box or similar box with corresponding key system that is adjacent to the elevator for immediate use by the fire department. The key box shall contain one key for each elevator, one key for lobby control, and any other keys necessary for emergency service. The elevator key box shall be accessed using a 6049 numbered key." (b) IFC, Chapter 6, Section 606.1, General, is amended as follows: On line three, after the word "Code", add the words "and NFPA 96." (c) IFC, Chapter 6, Section 606.2, a new Exception 5 is added as follows: "5. A Type 1 hood is not required for a cooking appliance in a microenterprise home kitchen, as that term is defined in Utah Code, Section 26B-7-401, for which the operator obtains a permit in accordance with Section 26B-7-416."