Town of Colchester, CT
New London County
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[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Colchester 6-29-2011. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Alarm systems — See Ch. 6.
Building construction — See Ch. 24.
Pursuant to C.G.S. § 7-148(c)(4)(B), the Town adopts the following rapid access systems ordinance.
The purpose of this chapter is to enable fire and emergency personnel to promptly enter commercial and industrial structures within the Town of Colchester by requiring the installation of a rapid access system in new or renovated commercial and industrial structures.
As used in this chapter, the following words or phrases shall have the meanings indicated:
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Town of Colchester Fire Department.
RAPID ACCESS SYSTEM
A rapid access system consisting of a heavy-duty key vault or other storage device that holds a key for providing emergency personnel with access to a commercial or industrial structure.
RENOVATED STRUCTURE
Any existing commercial or industrial building that has been updated or repaired, or any structure that has been converted to a commercial or industrial use, which required the issuance of a building permit from the Town of Colchester and for which the cost of work associated with the building or structure exceeded $10,000.
A. 
No certificate of occupancy shall henceforth be issued for any new or renovated commercial or industrial structure unless there shall be installed thereon a rapid access system approved by the Fire Department. Keys to such rapid access system shall be maintained exclusively by the Fire Department.
B. 
Upon installation of such rapid access system, the building owner shall, at such owner's expense, maintain all components thereof. If the Fire Department determines that a rapid access system must be repaired or replaced, it shall provide written notice to the building owner, and the building owner shall repair or replace said rapid access system within seven days of receipt of written notice from the Fire Department.
Any building owner who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be fined $25 for each violation per day so long as the violation continues.