(A) Required.
(1) All commercial structures which have a system which transmits off-site alarms for fire detection or suppression systems must have an approved, on-site lock box which contains keys to provide Fire Department access in an emergency or alarm activation.
(2) All commercial enterprises or industries in the town which use, store or manufacture on-site hazardous materials that must be reported under the state right-to-know laws, (G.S. § 95-173 et seq.), or under Title III of the Federal Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, must have an approved, on-site hazardous materials data storage box at each facility where hazardous materials may be found.
(3) Keys in boxes must be kept up-to-date. When locks are changed the Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau must be notified and new keys provided for the box.
(B) Violations; enforcement.
(1) Violations of this section shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine as provided under G.S. §§ 160A-175 and 14-4.
(2) Violators may be subject to a $500 civil penalty to be recovered in the nature of a debt. Each days continuing violation shall constitute a separate offense as provided by G.S. § 160A-175(g).
(3) The town may also secure injunctive and other appropriate equitable remedies to ensure compliance with this section, as provided by G.S. § 160A-175.
(4) Enforcement actions may be initiated by the Chief of the Fire Prevention Bureau, Fire Marshal or Chief of the Fire Department.
(C) Exceptions. In certain commercial enterprises maintaining 24-hour onsite premises security and emergency response, such enterprises may propose measures which will provide immediate access to vital information on a 24-hour basis, 365 days per year without the use of emergency information lock box. A violation of this section is punishable as a misdemeanor.
(Ord. passed 10-13-08; Am. Ord. passed 4-11-22)