Edinburgh hereby institutes a key box emergency access system in accordance with 675 IAC 22.
(A) The key box or rapid entry product manufacturer must be approved by the Fire Chief or his or her designee and shall be compatible with the system used by the Fire Department.
(B) When a property is protected by a locked fence or gate and where immediate access to the property of a Class 1 structure or residential neighborhood is necessary for life saving, firefighting purposes, or property preservation, the Fire Chief or his or her designee shall require a key switch, padlock, or other approved device to be installed at a location approved by the Fire Chief or his or her designee. The electric key switch or padlock shall be manufactured by a company approved by the Fire Chief, or his or her designee and keyed to the Fire Department key box key system.
(C) The Fire Department shall store all key box access keys securely in a key box key secure system installed in the fire apparatus.
(D) It shall be unlawful for a person to make or cause or permit to be made or have in his or her possession any key to access the key box except upon the written order of the Fire Chief. Keys to access the key box shall not be duplicated.
(E) It shall be unlawful to fail or refuse to surrender possession of any such key used to access the key box upon demand of the Fire Chief.
(F) All new construction of structures subject to this section shall have a key box installed and operational prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit.
(G) All structures in existence on the effective date of this chapter that are subject to this section shall have the key box installed and operational within six months of the effective date of this chapter.
(H) Noncompliance with this section after written notice from the Fire Chief subjects the owner of the building to a fine as set forth in this chapter.
(I) This section does not apply to Class 2 structures.
(Ord. 2023-17, passed 11-13-23)