A bill updating Hawaii County’s fire code bringing it in compliance with the latest state requirements is headed to Mayor Mitch Roth’s desk.
A bill updating Hawaii County’s fire code bringing it in compliance with the latest state requirements is headed to Mayor Mitch Roth’s desk.
The full County Council on Thursday voted 9-0 on second reading to forward Bill 221 to Roth’s desk to be signed into law.
The measure sets the framework for future fire code updates by creating a chapter in the county code devoted to fire and moving pertinent clauses into it from the building and plumbing codes.
It also updates fees, which haven’t been increased since 2006.
For example, the fee for a carnival or fair would increase from $100 to $200; farmers markets, flea markets and open markets would go up from $25 biannually to $100; installation or removal of flammable and combustible liquids tanks of greater than 60 gallons would increase from $50 to $200; places of assembly permits for assemblies of 300 occupants or greater would increase from $50 to $200 annually, and permits for tents and temporary structures of more than 700 square feet, for Christmas trees and fireworks for example, would go from $25 to $50.
In addition, certificates of fitness are now required. This means the individual who is installing, maintaining and testing systems is credentialed by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies, demonstrating they are capable and qualified to carry out the work.
The bill was introduced during the October meeting of the council’s Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit but was set temporarily set aside to allow officials time to figure out a way to make an important component of the code compatible with the county’s online EPIC building permit system.
It re-emerged in November, before going to the full council for a first reading in December.
“Mahalo nui you guys for all of your hard work in crafting this and making sure that our county code is now aligned with the most recent NFPA code regulations,” Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz said Thursday.
