(A) General. It is the intent of the county to work with the Fire Protection Districts and Fire Departments in the county to assure reasonable fire protection service.
(B) Central water system. To work towards a reasonable level of fire protection, the following requirements apply:
(1) Where a central water system is required, or unless otherwise approved pursuant to division (D) below, the developer shall install a system with a minimum capacity of 30,000 gallons which will flow a minimum of 1,000 gallons per minute; and
(2) Fire hydrants shall be provided. The fire hydrants shall provide sufficient water for structural and wildfire fighting. The hydrants shall comply with the following items:
(a) All fire hydrants shall be marked with reflective markings or signage and must be visible from the road. All signage must be approved by the County Commission;
(b) Fire hydrants located in parking areas shall be protected by barriers that will prevent physical damage from vehicles without obstructing fire hydrant operation;
(c) Fire hydrants shall be located within the public right-of-way;
(d) Threads on fire hydrant outlets shall be American National Fire Hose Connection Screw Threads and shall be equipped with thread adapters where local Fire Department thread is different;
(e) The area around fire hydrants shall remain clear of obstructions, including vegetation, signs, fences, light posts, snow accumulation, and so forth;
(f) In areas with municipal type water systems, the following requirements for fire hydrants shall be met.
1. For a required fire flow exceeding 1,500 gpm, the water supply system shall be capable of delivering that fire flow for at least two hours at 20 psi residual pressure.
2. For all required fire flows other than those described above, the water supply system shall be capable of delivering the required fire flow for at least one hour at 20 psi residual pressure.
3. Fire hydrants in partially built-out or built-out areas shall be installed at a spacing not to exceed 500 feet of vehicle travel distance from a building unless the Fire Department having jurisdiction determines that closer fire hydrant spacing is required.
4. In unbuilt areas, fire hydrants shall be installed at no more than 1,550 feet spacing with provisions in place to install fire hydrants to meet the spacing in the above mentioned.
5. The appropriate Fire Department shall approve the location of all fire hydrants.
6. In residential areas, fire hydrants shall be supplied by not less than six-inch-diameter main installed on a looped system, or by not less than an eight-inch-diameter main if the system is not looped or the fire hydrant is installed on a dead-end main exceeding 300 feet in length.
7. In nonresidential areas, detailed fire flow calculations shall be provided and used to determine necessary pipe sizing.
8. Future development in the area shall be considered when fire flow requirements are calculated.
9. Dead-end mains shall not exceed 600 feet in length for main sizes less than ten inches in diameter.
(g) Perpetual maintenance agreements, covenants, and/or deed restrictions that provide for the preservation and care for structures, improvements, conditions, or areas so that they remain attractive, safe, and presentable and carries out the purposes for which it was installed, constructed, or required (i.e., weed plan, fire plan, water system, fire hydrants, and the like). The county is not a party to any of the above and takes no responsibility in their enforcement.
(C) No central water system. In subdivisions which do not have a central water system, or unless otherwise approved pursuant to division (D) below, provision for a water storage system shall be made with the capacity of such system equivalent to a minimum of 2,000 gallons per residential lot in the proposed subdivision and will flow a minimum of 1,000 gallons per minute.
(D) Dry hydrants.
(1) As allowed in divisions (B) and (C) above, a dry hydrant system may be used as a water source where a local water source such as a lake or pond is available and the developer proposes to use this source with a dry hydrant. The dry hydrant shall be designed by a professional engineer licensed in the State of South Dakota and located as follows.
(a) The County Commission shall approve all aspects of the dry hydrant design and construction, including materials, pipe size, and system fittings used.
(b) As a minimum, Schedule 40 pipe and component fittings shall be used.
(c) The system shall be designed and constructed to provide a minimum flow of 1,000 gallons per minute at draft.
(d) The water supply source for the dry hydrant shall provide, on a year-round basis, the required quantity of water.
(e) The system shall be designed and constructed so that the slope and piping configurations do not impede capability.
(f) All exposed surfaces and underground metal surfaces shall be protected to prevent deterioration.
(g) A minimum number of elbows shall be used in the piping system.
(h) Suction hose connection(s) shall be compatible with the Fire Department’s hard suction and include a protective cap. The cap and adapter shall be of materials that minimize rust and galvanic corrosion.
(i) The system piping shall be supported and/or stabilized using approved engineering design practices.
(j) Stabilization or equivalent protection shall be employed at elbows and other system stress points.
(k) Design shall specify strength of materials, structural support data, and appropriate aggregates and soil materials used to backfill piping during installation.
(l) All connections shall be clean, and the appropriate sealing material shall be used according to manufactures specifications so as to ensure that all joints are airtight.
(m) System strainers shall be constructed to permit required fire flow.
(n) Adequate working space shall be provided around the dry hydrant to provide for a safe working environment and shall be accessible under all weather conditions.
(2) Written recommendation from the applicable fire agency is required if on-site storage is to be waived, and any such waiver is subject to County Commission approval.
(3) Perpetual maintenance agreements, covenants, or deed restrictions that provide for the preservation and care of structures and improvements.
(E) Wildfire mitigation plan.
(1) A wildfire mitigation plan shall be prepared by a wildfire mitigation contractor.
(2) The contractor shall consider and incorporate the standards set out in the County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) as is applicable according to best practices.
(3) The Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a living document.
(4) Efforts to pursue implementation of a wildfire mitigation plan will be beneficial to promote safer, more responsible planning and development in the county.
(5) By giving more consideration to developing better roads, more survivable space, more open areas, better water sources, and using more fire resistive building materials and fire-wise building practices, there may be a significant reduction in loss of values from wildfire.
(6) Providing a safer environment for firefighters and the general public will help provide a higher degree of protection for values at risk.
(7) The CWPP is available on the county website at www.lawrence.sd.us.
(8) A wildfire mitigation plan consists of four phases. Each phase coincides with a specific step in the subdivision process. The chart below details the implementation of the phases with respect to approval of a preliminary plat(s), final plat(s), and certificate of occupancy.
Wildfire Mitigation Plan Phase | Schedule of Implementation | Considerations and Additional Requirements | Verifications |
Phase 1: Analysis: If conifers are present on the property a written report is required at time of preliminary plat submittal. The County Planning Department may determine a written report be necessary by a wildfire mitigation contractor. | Required at time of preliminary plat submittal | The plan shall include the date of consultation, owner name, address, and legal description and shall discuss the following considerations: • Existing and proposed structures • Description of fire resistant building materials consistent with the CWPP materials list • Ingress/egress • Survivable space • Vegetation management and maintenance • Topography, setback, slope, aspect, and the like • Climate conditions and fire history • Planned phasing for implementation of treatments (landscape, surface fuels, ladder fuels, and survivable space treatments) | A written report prepared by a wildfire mitigation contractor |
Phase 2: Landscape Treatment | Implementation required prior to final plat approval | Certification of completion by wildfire mitigation contractor | |
Phase 3: Surface Fuels/Ladder Fuels, and Survivable Space Treatment | Implementation required prior to issuance of certificate of occupancy1 | Certification of completion by wildfire mitigation contractor | |
Phase 4: Maintenance/ Enforcement | Recommended for inclusion in homeowners’ association covenants2 | ||
Table notes: 1: The requirements of this phase are applicable only to lots created on plats approved on or after September 15, 2010. 2: A wildfire mitigation plan shall include provisions to reduce the risks from wildfire, including provisions for continuous proper hazardous fuels management, perpetual maintenance agreements, covenants, and/or deed restrictions that provide for the preservation and care for structures, improvements, conditions, or areas so that they remain attractive, safe, and presentable and carries out the purposes for which it was installed, constructed, or required (i.e., weed plan, fire plan, water system, fire hydrants, and the like). The county is not a party to any of the above and takes no responsibility in their enforcement. | |||
(Ord. 14-04, passed 6-30-2015, Ch. 7, Art. 16; Ord. 19-01, passed 4-9-2019; Ord. 21-03, passed 9-28-2021)