53-7-204. Duties of Utah Fire Prevention Board -- Unified Code Analysis Council -- Local administrative duties.

901 words·~4 min read·/ut/title-53/chapter-7/53-7-204

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 5/6/2026

(1)The board shall:

(a)administer the state fire code as the standard in the state;

(b)subject to the state fire code, make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act :

(i)establishing standards for the prevention of fire and for the protection of life and property against fire and panic in any:

(A)publicly owned building, including all public and private schools, colleges, and university buildings;

(B)building or structure used or intended for use as an asylum, a mental hospital, a hospital, a sanitarium, a home for the elderly, an assisted living facility, a children's home or day care center, or any building or structure used for a similar purpose; or

(C)place of assemblage where 50 or more persons may gather together in a building, structure, tent, or room for the purpose of amusement, entertainment, instruction, or education;

(ii)establishing safety and other requirements for placement and discharge of display fireworks on the basis of:

(A)the state fire code; and

(B)relevant publications of the National Fire Protection Association;

(iii)establishing safety standards for retail storage, handling, and sale of a division 1.4G common state approved explosive;

(iv)defining methods to establish proof of competence to place and discharge display fireworks, special effects fireworks, and flame effects;

(v)subject to Subsection

(2), creating a uniform statewide policy regarding a state, county, special district, and local government entity's safe seizure, storage, and repurposing, destruction, or disposal of a division 1.1G explosive, division 1.2G explosive, division 1.3G explosive, or division 1.4G explosive that:

(A)is illegal; or

(B)a person uses or handles in an illegal manner;

(vi)deputizing qualified persons to act as deputy fire marshals, and to secure special services in emergencies;

(vii)implementing Section 15A-1-403 ;

(viii)establishing criteria for the certification of firefighters, pump operators, instructors, fire officers, fire investigators, and rescue personnel not certified or licensed under any other section of the Utah Code;

(ix)establishing criteria for training and safety equipment grants for fire departments enrolled in firefighter certification;

(x)establishing ongoing training standards for hazardous materials emergency response agencies;

(xi)establishing criteria for the fire safety inspection of a food truck; and

(xii)establishing criteria for the accreditation and reaccreditation of fire service training organizations;

(c)recommend to the commissioner a state fire marshal;

(d)develop policies under which the state fire marshal and the state fire marshal's authorized representatives will perform;

(e)provide for the employment of field assistants and other salaried personnel as required;

(f)prescribe the duties of the state fire marshal and the state fire marshal's authorized representatives;

(g)provide technical expertise, advice, and support to Utah Valley University in the establishment and operation of the fire and rescue training program described in Section 53H-4-705 ;

(h)establish a statewide fire statistics program for the purpose of gathering fire data from all political subdivisions of the state;

(i)coordinate the efforts of all people engaged in fire suppression in the state;

(j)work aggressively with the local political subdivisions to reduce fire losses;

(k)regulate the sale and servicing of portable fire extinguishers and automatic fire suppression systems in the interest of safeguarding lives and property;

(l)establish a certification program for persons who inspect and test automatic fire sprinkler systems;

(m)establish a certification program for persons who inspect and test fire alarm systems;

(n)establish a certification for persons who provide response services regarding hazardous materials emergencies;

(o)in accordance with Section 53-7-602 , establish a licensing and certification program for carbon dioxide systems;

(p)in accordance with Sections 15A-1-403 and 68-3-14 , submit a written report to the Business and Labor Interim Committee; and

(q)jointly create the Unified Code Analysis Council with the Uniform Building Code Commission in accordance with Section 15A-1-203 .

(a)In the rules that the board makes under Subsection (1)(b)(v) , the board shall include a provision prohibiting a state, county, special district, or local government entity from disposing of an item described in Subsection (1)(b)(v) by means of open burning, except under circumstances described in the rule.

(b)When making a rule under Subsection (1)(b)(v) , the board shall:

(i)review and include applicable references to:

(A)requirements described in Title 15A, Chapter 5, State Fire Code Act ; and

(B)provisions of the International Fire Code; and

(ii)consider the appropriate role of the following in relation to the rule:

(A)the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and

(B)a firework wholesaler or distributor.

(3)The board may incorporate in its rules by reference, in whole or in part:

(a)the state fire code; or

(b)subject to the state fire code, a nationally recognized and readily available standard pertaining to the protection of life and property from fire, explosion, or panic.

(4)The following functions shall be administered locally by a city, county, or fire protection district:

(a)issuing permits, including open burning permits pursuant to Sections 11-7-1 and 19-2-114 ;

(b)creating a local board of appeals in accordance with the state fire code; and

(c)subject to the state fire code and the other provisions of this chapter, establishing, modifying, or deleting fire flow and water supply requirements.

Amended by Chapter 333 , 2026 General Session