§ 11-276. Required access for fire apparatus.

(a)

All premises which the Fire/EMS Department may be called upon to protect in case of fire or other emergencies and which are not readily accessible to fire apparatus from public streets shall be provided with suitable gates, access roads, and fire lanes so that all buildings on the premises are accessible to fire apparatus, and in accordance with the County Building Code, Subtitle 4, Section 4-223.

(b)

Private roads or fire lanes shall be provided for all buildings which are set back more than one hundred fifty (150) feet from a public street or exceed thirty (30) feet in height and are set back over fifty (50) feet from a public street. Private roads or fire lanes shall be:

(1)

Along the longest side of the buildings;

(2)

At least twenty-two (22) feet in width; and

(3)

At the road edge nearest to the building no closer than ten (10) feet and no further than forty (40) feet from the building.

When buildings or any portion thereof are located one hundred fifty (150) feet or more from a public street or access way and there is not suitable access for fire apparatus as determined by the Fire Chief or authorized representative, there shall be provided approved fire protection system or systems as required and approved by the Fire Chief or authorized representative.

(c)

All buildings, parts of buildings, or other obstructions extending over access driveways shall have a vertical clearance of a least fourteen (14) feet from the finished driveway surface. Where approved fire protection systems are provided, the above required clearances may be modified or waived by the Fire Chief or authorized representative.

(d)

When any portion of the first story of any building is more than three hundred (300) feet from the nearest point of a public street or public access way, the building shall be made accessible to fire apparatus by an all-weather access way approved by the Fire Chief or authorized representative, unless the entire building is served by an approved fire protection system.

(e)

The provisions of Subsection (b) of this Section shall not apply to buildings for which building permits were issued before the effective date of this Section.

(f)

The provisions of this Section shall not apply to residential occupancies as defined in the International Building Code adopted by Subtitle 4 of this County Code which both are not physically attached or touching and also contain two or fewer dwelling units each.

(g)

All turning radius for emergency vehicles shall comply with the Prince George's County Department of Transportation standards 200.12 (Urban Cul-de-sac Offset Turnaround) and 200.13 (Urban Cul-de-sac Symmetrical Turnaround).

(CB-107-1979; CB-80-2006)