Staff at the Seattle Fire Department develop and administer codes that regulate fire safety in Seattle.  Code development decisions are made in conjunction with the Seattle Fire Code Advisory Board (FCAB), whose members bring perspective from the industries and associations they represent to ensure that the fire prevention and life safety goals are achieved in a manner that works for businesses, labor and residents of Seattle.

Seattle's Fire Code is based on the International Fire Code. The Washington State Legislature and the Washington State Building Code Council have adopted the codes listed below to comprise the Washington State Building Code for use throughout the state.

• 2009 International Building Code
• 2009 International Residential Code
• 2009 International Mechanical Code, except the standards for liquefied petroleum gas installations shall be in accordance with NFPA 58 (Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases) and NFPA 54 (National Fuel Gas Code)
• 2009 International Fire Code

The City of Seattle City Council approved, and the Mayor signed, City Ordinances adopting and amending the above codes in the Fall of 2010.  Seattle Fire Department code development staff are now working with the Seattle Fire Code Advisory Board on local amendments to the 2012 International Fire Code, which will be brought to the City Council for adoption during 2013 to form the 2012 Seattle Fire Code.  For a complete list of codes, please see the 2009 Seattle Building Code Collection (off site).

Seattle Fire Code Advisory Board

The Fire Code Advisory Board was created by the Seattle City Council over five decades ago to give the public and local business, industry and technical trades a clear voice in the process.  Board members advise the City on updates and revisions to the code and have played a crucial role in shaping the City's Fire Code.  The 15 board members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council and serve a renewable term of three years. 

The Fire Code Advisory Board's members are designated by City Ordinance 119799 to represent the following areas of interest:

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Last Modified:   December 03, 2012