Every building hereafter erected, enlarged or moved within or
into the fire district shall be of fire-resistive mill or ordinary
construction, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Enclosing
walls, division walls and party walls shall be four-hour fire-resistive
walls of a construction as provided in § Ind 51.05, Wis.
Adm. Code, which is hereby by reference made a part of this chapter
with respect to all buildings and structures within the fire district.
The terms "fire-resistive construction," "mill construction," "ordinary
construction," "frame construction" and "fire-retardant roof coverings"
shall have the meaning as defined in the Wisconsin Administrative
Code, §§ Ind 51.001, 51.01, 51.02, 51.03 and 51.07
of the Wisconsin State Building Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See now the Commercial Building Code, Chapters
SPS 361 to 366, Wis. Adm. Code, and Ch. SPS 375, which contains definitions
of those terms, under "Buildings Constructed Prior to 1914."
A.
The general fire limits of the City of Watertown, Wisconsin, shall
be as follows:
(1)
East of Rock River. Beginning at the center line of Jones Street
at Rock River, thence easterly to North Fifth Street, thence southerly
along the center line of North Fifth Street to Madison Street, thence
easterly along the center line of Madison Street to North Eighth Street,
thence northerly along the center line of North Eighth Street to the
northwest corner of Seibel's subdivision, thence easterly along the
north line of Seibel's subdivision to the northeast corner of Seibel's
subdivision, thence southerly along the east line of Seibel's subdivision
to East Main Street, thence westerly along the center line of East
Main Street to Seventh Street, thence southerly along the center line
of Seventh Street to Market Street, thence westerly along the center
line of Market Street to Fourth Street, thence southerly along the
center line of Fourth Street to Jefferson Street, thence westerly
along the center line of Jefferson Street to Rock River.
(2)
West of Rock River. Beginning at the center line of O'Connell Street
at Rock River, thence westerly along the center line of O'Connell
Street to North Washington Street, thence southerly along the center
line of North Washington Street to a point on a line with the north
line of lot 7, block 31, Original Plat, thence westerly along the
north line of lots 4, 5, 6, and 7, block 31, Original Plat, to the
center line of North Church Street, thence southerly along the center
line of North Church Street and Church Street to a point on a line
with the south line of lot 1, block 32, Original Plat, thence easterly
along the south line of lots 1, 2, 9 and 10 of block 32, Original
Plat, to the center line of Washington Street, thence southerly along
the center line of Washington Street to Emmet Street, thence easterly
along the center line of Emmet Street to Rock River.
B.
No person or persons owning or in control of any lot or parcel of
ground situated within the general fire limits shall kindle, start
or cause or permit the burning of any trash or rubbish outside of
a building thereon, whether or not such trash or rubbish is contained
within a fireproof burner, without the permission and approval in
writing of the Fire Chief or Fire Inspector.
The special fire limits shall be as follows:
A.
Lots 4, 5, 6, 7 of block 40, and all of block 45, Original Plat,
west of Rock River, in the Fourth Ward.
B.
Lots 1, 2, 9, 10 of block 39, and lots 1, 5, 6 of block 46, Original
Plat, west side of Rock River, in the Third Ward.
C.
Lots 5, 6, 7, 8 of block 4, and all of blocks 5, 6, 7, Original Plat,
east side of Rock River, and all of outlots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 in
the Second Ward.
D.
Lots 1, 2, 3 of block 8, and all of blocks 9, 10, 11, 12, Original
Plat, east side of Rock River in the First Ward.
A.
No building of frame or wood construction or of any other combustible
material shall hereafter be erected or constructed within the general
fire limits, and no such building shall be moved to or upon any lot
within the general fire limits from without such fire limits.
B.
All walls of outbuildings, which are not a part of main buildings,
shall be of brick or other fireproof materials, and such walls shall
not be less than eight inches in thickness; provided, however, that
such buildings, if located at least 10 feet distant from any other
building and not exceeding 120 feet in superficial area and eight
feet in height, may be built of wood if covered on the outside and
roof with sheet metal or other fireproof material approved by the
Public Works Director/City Engineer.
[Amended 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
C.
Dwelling houses not exceeding 26 feet in height from the water table
to the eave may be erected within the special fire limits of wood
on brick or stone foundation, if duly covered on the outside with
and encased in brick walls, not less than four inches in thickness,
extending from foundation to roof. The roof shall in each case be
covered with fireproof material.
D.
No building which is intended for mercantile, retail, wholesale or
any form and character of business whatsoever shall be erected or
constructed within the general fire limits except the builder thereof
first secure and file with the Public Works Director/City Engineer
one set of plans showing thereon the approval of the State Department
of Safety and Professional Services.
[Amended 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
No building or structure of any kind shall hereafter be constructed
within the special fire limits unless the same is in conformity with
the following provisions:
A.
All outside and party walls, except as hereinafter specified, shall
be made of stone, brick, concrete, iron, steel or other incombustible
material approved by the Public Works Director/City Engineer.
[Amended 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
B.
All outside and party walls of stores, mills, breweries, warehouses,
malt houses and all other buildings, except as hereinafter provided,
shall, in their minimum thickness, be constructed in accordance with
the following table:
|
Basement
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
| ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 story
|
12 inch
|
8
| |||||
|
2 story
|
12 inch
|
12
|
8
| ||||
|
3 story
|
16 inch
|
12
|
12
|
8
| |||
|
4 story
|
16 inch
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
8
| ||
|
5 story
|
16 inch
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
8
| |
C.
Plate glass and steel construction shall be allowed if in conformity
with the rules of modern practice and approved by the Public Works
Director/City Engineer.
[Amended 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
D.
Framework of bay windows may be constructed of wooden studding and
sheathing, provided the same is covered on the outside with sheet
metal or other fireproof material approved by the Public Works Director/City
Engineer, the spaces between the studding completely filled with mineral
wood, asbestos, hard-burned clay tile, terra-cotta, or other fireproof
material approved by the Public Works Director/City Engineer, and
metal lath used on the inner side.
[Amended 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
E.
All roofs, cornices and gutters shall be made of or covered with
sheet metal, slate, vitrified tile or other fireproof material approved
by the Public Works Director/City Engineer.
[Amended 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
F.
Any outside platform, stairs, walk, balcony or structure other than
a building, any portion of which shall be more than 15 feet from the
ground, shall be entirely made of or covered with fireproof material.
[Amended by Ord. No. 69-12]
No building or part of a building or other structure within the general fire limits which does not conform in its construction to the requirements of § 253-43 shall be raised, enlarged or removed to any other place within said general fire limits, nor shall any such building or structure be moved into the territory embraced in said general fire limits, nor shall any such building or other structure within said general fire limits which may be damaged to the extent of 50% of its fair market value be enlarged, repaired or made up to occupy more space than before such injury, or raised higher than the highest point of such building before the occurrence of the injury.
[Amended 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
The extent of any damage to any building or other structure
within said general fire limits may be determined by three persons,
residents of the City, one of whom shall be chosen by the owner of
the building or structure, the second shall be the Public Works Director/City
Engineer, and the two so selected shall elect a third; their decision
or that of a majority of them shall be final and conclusive. Such
decision shall be filed in the office of the Building Inspector.
[Amended 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
Any building or structure erected, constructed, enlarged, repaired
or removed into or from place to place within said special fire limits
contrary to the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed a nuisance,
owing to the proximity and number of buildings within said special
fire limits and for the prevention of fire and the spread and communication
thereof; and upon information thereof to the Building Inspector after
due notice to the owner, his agent or the builder to remove or abate
the same, or alter the same so as to comply with the requirements
of this chapter within 30 days, and after a hearing before the Common
Council be given such owner, agent or building to show cause why such
building or other structure or nuisance is not removed within said
stipulated time, then the Building Inspector is to cause such building
or structure to be razed, and the expense thereof shall be reported
by the Building Inspector to the City Treasurer, who shall spread
the same on the tax roll as a charge against the property.
