CAR Supports Prohibition of Local Government Sprinkler Requirements

After FCBR and many other local REALTOR Association in Colorado were successful in removing mandatory installation of fire sprinklers from the local adoption of 2009 Residential Building Code in the past couple of years a movement is afoot to see that extended to the entire state of Colorado via a proposed bill.

SB-81, Local Government Sprinkler Installation Requirements, by Sen. Kevin Grantham (R-Canon City) seeks to prohibit counties and municipalities from requiring the installation of sprinklers in single-family dwellings. For example, the 2009 Model Residential Building Code included a provision requiring sprinklers in most new residential construction. This bill would prohibit local governments from requiring that provision. The LPC supports this bill because it does not believe government should place mandates on builders and because of the increased costs sprinklers would arbitrarily add to new homes. CAR believes any decisions to include sprinkler systems in homes should be made by builders and/or their customers.

Read SB-81 in its entirety.