Chapter 46.44
FIRE LANES
Sections:
46.44.010 Fire lanes authorized.
46.44.020 Access roadways for newly constructed buildings.
46.44.040 Lane not designated—Duty of fire department.
46.44.050 Failure to comply—Lien on property.
46.44.060 Fire lanes not to be obstructed.
46.44.090 Intention and city liability.
46.44.010 Fire lanes authorized.
The chief of the fire department or his designee shall determine and specify, after giving notice by mailing to persons whose names appear on the property tax rolls maintained in the Snohomish County assessor’s office in connection with said property, and to the current occupier(s) and by posting a copy of said determination upon the premises in a conspicuous place, access roadways of not less than twenty feet of unobstructed width for fire department apparatus and other emergency equipment and personnel. Said lanes are authorized on streets or ways open to the public or where, because of the congregating of people or the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles, there exists an especially hazardous condition in case of fire or other disaster. Provided, building sites which contain more than one hundred parking spaces shall be designed with access lanes and fire lanes not less than twenty feet in width, forming a continuous route or loop connecting at both ends with public streets. In parking lots containing less than one hundred parking spaces emergency access shall be provided subject to approval of the fire chief or his designee. Emergency access shall be provided to within fifty feet of any multiple-family building. Provided further that if any of these requirements are impractical due to the peculiarities of the site and/or existing buildings, other provisions for emergency access may be approved by the fire chief or his designee. (Ord. 891-82 § 1, 1982)
46.44.020 Access roadways for newly constructed buildings.
A. Every building hereafter constructed shall be accessible to fire department apparatus by way of access roadways approved by the fire department with all-weather driving surface of not less than twenty feet of unobstructed width, with adequate roadway turning radius capable of supporting the imposed loads of fire apparatus and having a minimum of thirteen feet, six inches of vertical clearance.
EXCEPTION: The requirements of this section may be modified when, in the opinion of the fire chief or his designee, fire-fighting or rescue operations would not be impaired.
B. The access roadway shall be extended to within one hundred fifty feet of all portions of the exterior walls of the first story of any building. Where the access roadway cannot be provided, an approved fire protection system or systems shall be provided as required and approved by the fire chief or his designee.
C. Where fire protection systems approved by the fire chief or his designee are provided, the clearances required in this section may be modified.
D. The fire chief or his designee shall have the authority to require an increase in the minimum access widths where such width is not adequate for fire or rescue operations. (Ord. 891-82 § 2, 1982)
46.44.030 Duty to establish.
It shall be the duty of any and all owners, occupiers or others with a possessory interest in any real property to designate and maintain at all times fire lanes determined and specified by the fire chief or his designee. Designation and maintenance shall include the installation and maintenance of no-parking signs, and/or other appropriate notice prohibiting obstructions within the fire lane. Such signs and/or other appropriate notice shall be in a format and so placed as approved by regulation of the fire chief or his designee. (Ord. 891-82 § 3, 1982)
46.44.040 Lane not designated—Duty of fire department.
Whenever it comes to the attention of the fire chief or officer of the fire or police department that a required fire lane has either not been designated or is not being maintained, then such officer or employee shall cause notice to be given to any owner, occupier or others with a possessory interest in said property that failure to designate and maintain a fire lane is in violation of this chapter and that such violation must be corrected within thirty days of the date of such notice, and that in the event such violation continues beyond thirty days, the city may commence enforcement proceedings either by filing an ordinance violation, or in the alternative, come on the property of the violator and designate and sign the required fire lane. (Ord. 891-82 § 4, 1982)
46.44.050 Failure to comply—Lien on property.
Any expense reasonably incurred by the city of Everett as a result of the fire department carrying out its duty imposed herein shall become a charge against the owner of the property and a lien against the property. The notice of lien shall be substantially the same as provided by law for liens for labor and materials in the state of Washington, and shall be filed with the same officer within the same time and manner and enforced and foreclosed as is provided by the laws of the state of Washington for liens for labor and materials. Provided, the city must give notice as set forth in this section to the owner of said property whose name appears on the property tax rolls of the county prior to commencing the work giving rise to the city’s lien on the property. (Ord. 891-82 § 5, 1982)
46.44.060 Fire lanes not to be obstructed.
A. When signs are erected indicating fire lanes as authorized in this chapter, the required width shall not be obstructed or caused to be obstructed in any manner, including parking or stopping of vehicles.
B. No person shall erect or cause to be allowed gates, chains or other barriers, or security gates on fire lanes, unless approved by the fire chief or his designee. When any locked gate, barrier or chain has been approved, the owner shall supply a sufficient number of entry keys or keycards to the fire chief or his designee. (Ord. 891-82 § 6, 1982)
46.44.070 Enforcement.
When an infraction exists, the Everett police department is authorized to cite and/or immediately impound any motor vehicle or obstruction parked in a fire lane or within fifteen feet of any fire hydrant whether on public or private property. (Ord. 891-82 § 7, 1982)
46.44.080 Penalties.
Except as otherwise provided, any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine not to exceed three hundred fifty dollars. (Ord. 891-82 § 8, 1982)
46.44.090 Intention and city liability.
It is expressly the purpose of this code to provide for and promote the health, safety and welfare of the general public, and not to create or otherwise establish or designate any particular class or group of persons who will or should be especially protected or benefited by the terms of this code.
It is the specific intent of this code that no provision nor term used in this code is intended to impose any duty whatsoever upon the city or any of its officers or employees, for whom the implementation or enforcement of this code shall be discretionary and not mandatory.
Nothing contained in this code is intended to be nor shall be construed to create or form the basis for any liability on the part of the city, or its officers, employees or agents, for any injury or damage resulting from the failure of a building to comply with the provisions of this code, or by reason or in consequence of any inspection, notice, order, certificate, permission or approval authorized or issued or done in connection with the implementation or enforcement of this code, or by reason of any action or inaction and the part of the city related in any manner to the enforcement of this code by its officers, employees or agents. (Ord. 891-82 § 10, 1982)