[Adopted 5-21-1990 by Ord. No. 167-90]
When access to or within a property or structure or an area on that property is unduly difficult because of secured openings and where immediate access is necessary for lifesaving and/or fire-fighting purposes or when there is reasonable cause to believe a lifesaving or fire-fighting situation exists, the Fire Marshal or Fire Chief shall require a key box to be installed in an approved location.
This article shall apply to the following properties or structures:
A. 
All new commercial and/or manufacturing buildings constructed after the effective date of this article.
B. 
All existing commercial and/or manufacturing buildings which undergo renovation, remodeling or other improvement requiring a building permit or are sold after the effective date of this article.
C. 
All new residential buildings in excess of six units which have common corridors to dwelling units and which are constructed after the effective date of this article.
D. 
All existing residential buildings in excess of six units which have common corridors to dwelling units and which undergo renovation, remodeling or other improvements requiring a building permit or are sold after the effective date of this article.
The key box shall be a type approved by the Fire Marshal. The Fire Marshal may promulgate reasonable rules and regulations to implement this article relating to key boxes. A schedule for compliance shall be established by such regulations, except that no permits for occupancy or building renovations shall be issued without prior compliance with this article.
A. 
The Knox Box shall contain:
(1) 
Keys and/or magnet cards to locked points of ingress, whether on the interior or exterior of such property.
(2) 
Keys and/or magnet cards to locked mechanical equipment rooms.
(3) 
Keys and/or magnet cards to locked electrical rooms or panels.
(4) 
Keys and/or magnet cards to locked elevator rooms or controls.
(5) 
Keys and/or magnet cards to other areas as directed by the Fire Marshal.
(6) 
Hazardous materials information as defined in Section 29-336 of the General Statutes in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Fire Marshal.
B. 
This section shall not apply to keys to private offices and/or individual dwelling units.
Keys to key boxes shall be held by authorized personnel of the Fire Division only.
Upon written notification, the owner of a privately owned premises shall install or cause to have installed such key boxes as requested, under the direction of the local Fire Marshal or Fire Chief. However, if such owner has not complied with such written notification within 30 days of its issuance, the Fire Marshal or Fire Chief shall have such key boxes installed. In any event, installation of such key boxes on privately owned premises shall be at the cost of the owner and may be billed for and collected in the same manner as municipal taxes, provided that the municipality causes a notice of lien to be filed on the land records within 60 days after such installation.