Advocacy Updates Blog
Published Mar 18, 2025
City of Port Coquitlam - Fire and Emergency Services Bylaw
Adopted
As mentioned in previous updates, on March 11th, Council adopted the Fire and Emergency Services Bylaw. This included several key improvements over the existing bylaw, including:
- Alignment with Fire Safety Act and modern fire codes;
- Introduction of a risk-based compliance monitoring system - establishes a structured approach to fire inspections, prioritizing properties based on their risk levels;
- Granting authority to require updated fire safety plans for multi-tenant buildings and construction sites, clarifies regulations for storing combustible materials, mandates property owners regularly maintain fire hydrants and other fire suppression infrastructure to ensure effectiveness;
- Enhancing authority for the Fire Chief and Fire Department, allowing them to issue compliance orders, evacuations, and fire safety enforcement;
- Addressing fire watch, forest fire response, and shipping container hazards; and
- Introducing a cost recovery structure for fire services, ensuring non-compliant properties and large events cover associated costs.
More information can be found in the full report by City staff.
February 18, 2025
On February 11th, a report was referred to Council for approval on the Fire and Emergency Services Bylaw. This included several key improvements over the existing bylaw, including:
- Alignment with Fire Safety Act and modern fire codes;
- Introduction of a risk-based compliance monitoring system - establishes a structured approach to fire inspections, prioritizing properties based on their risk levels;
- Granting authority to require updated fire safety plans for multi-tenant buildings and construction sites, clarifies regulations for storing combustible materials, mandates property owners regularly maintain fire hydrants and other fire suppression infrastructure to ensure effectiveness;
- Enhancing authority for the Fire Chief and Fire Department, allowing them to issue compliance orders, evacuations, and fire safety enforcement;
- Addressing fire watch, forest fire response, and shipping container hazards; and
- Introducing a cost recovery structure for fire services, ensuring non-compliant properties and large events cover associated costs.
More information can be found in the full report by City staff.
