[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Plymouth as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 4-7-1999 ATM by Art. 34 (Ch. 74, §§ 74-1 — 74-6, of the 1999 Code)]
[Amended 10-18-2025 ATM by Art. 10]
A. 
Under the authority of MGL c. 148, §§ 10 and 28, and 527 CMR, the Board of Fire Prevention Regulations, the Fire Chief or his designated representative is authorized to establish fire lanes to be located on private and public property devoted to or used in whole or part by the public in the Town of Plymouth, or on such other property where the establishment of fire lanes shall be determined by the Fire Chief to be necessary to allow access of fire apparatus or emergency equipment for the protection of public safety.
B. 
The Fire Chief or his designated representative shall establish the specific locations and dimensions of all fire lanes after consideration of the following factors:
(1) 
The nature of the use of the premises.
(2) 
The volume of motor vehicle traffic on or about or near the designated premises.
(3) 
The size and type of fire apparatus and emergency equipment available and necessary for the protection of the premises.
(4) 
The area of the land and the size of the building or buildings to be protected.
Fire lanes authorized pursuant to § 156-1 may be located at entrances to and exits from parking areas, driveways, and buildings, other areas of public ingress and egress, common drives, in or within areas surrounding post indicator valves, hydrants and Fire Department connections and at other locations determined by the Fire Chief or his designated representative.
Fire lanes shall be a minimum width of 18 feet. Unless the Fire Chief should indicate otherwise, fire lanes shall be marked by yellow lines a minimum of four inches in width, spaced no more than three feet apart and extending a minimum of six feet on the diagonal from the curb. The legend "(FIRE LANE)" shall be included within the striped area. Signs with the legend "FIRE LANE - NO PARKING AT ANY TIME - VIOLATOR SUBJECT TO FINE - VEHICLE MAY BE TOWED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE" shall be erected at a ratio of one per 50 linear feet of fire lane. Signs shall be at least 12 inches in width and 16 inches in height, and shall be securely mounted at least four feet but no more than six feet above grade.
[Amended 10-18-2025 ATM by Art. 10]
The Fire Chief or his designated representative shall give written notice of the establishment of a fire lane to the owner of the property which is the subject of such establishment and direct the owner to post fire lanes at the owner's expense. The property owner shall post fire lanes as established in accordance with § 156-3 within 60 days of the giving of the notice of such establishment. The signs shall be erected at the location established and shall conform to the specifications designated by the Fire Chief.
No person shall park or leave unattended a motor vehicle in or within any part of an area established and posted or marked as a fire lane pursuant to this bylaw. No person shall otherwise obstruct any such fire lane or place any obstruction within a fire lane. An owner of property which has any such fire lane shall keep such fire lane free of snow.
[Amended 10-18-2025 ATM by Art. 10]
A. 
Fines for violations of § 156-4. Whoever violates § 156-4 of this bylaw shall be liable to a fine of not more than $50 for each offense. Each day that any violation continues shall constitute and be a separate offense.
B. 
Fines for violations of § 156-5. Whoever violates § 156-5 of this bylaw shall be liable to a fine established in accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 90, § 20A 1/2. Fire Department and Police Department personnel are hereby authorized to cause motor vehicles which are parked in violation of § 156-5 to be towed or otherwise removed pursuant to the provisions of MGL c. 40, § 22D.
[Adopted 4-4-2009 ATM by Art. 14 (Ch. 74, § 74-7, of the 1999 Code); amended 10-18-2025 ATM by Art. 10]
The following specialized fire codes published by the National Fire Protection Association, as such codes may be amended from time to time, shall be applicable in the Town of Plymouth:
A. 
NFPA 140, "Standard on Motion Picture and Television Production Studio Soundstages, Approved Production Facilities and Production Locations," most recent edition.
B. 
NFPA 160, "Standard for the Use of Flame Effects Before an Audience," most recent edition.