Staples, Minn., City Code ch. 103, art. IV § 103-95

(a) Compliance required. No person shall let to another for occupancy any dwelling, dwelling unit, roominghouse, rooming unit, lodginghouse, or lodging unit which does not comply with the applicable fire prevention provisions of this Code and the following additional standards for safety from fire.
(b) Open fires. No person shall set or maintain any open fire, or knowingly furnish the materials for any such fire, or authorize any such fire to be set, kindled or maintained on or in any street, alley, lot, land or public or private grounds within the city, except as permitted by the provisions of section 12-1 .
(c) Vacant dwellings. The owner of any dwelling in the city, whenever the same becomes vacant or unoccupied shall remove there from, all papers or other combustible waste materials accumulated therein, and shall securely close and keep closed all doors, windows or other openings into such building while the same remains unoccupied.
(d) Fire warning system.
(1) Smoke detectors are required in every bedroom and one per level. Smoke alarms and smoke detectors shall not be located closer than three feet from any door to a bathroom or kitchen. Smoke alarms and smoke detectors that are located within 20 feet of a cooking appliance shall be equipped with a silencing switch or be of the photoelectric type in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standard 72, section 3.3.66, or as may be amended.
(2) When interior alterations, repairs, or additions requiring a permit occur, or when one or more sleeping rooms are added or created in existing dwellings, the individual dwelling unit shall be provided with smoke alarms located as required for new dwellings; the smoke alarms shall be interconnected and hard wired. Exception: smoke alarms in existing areas shall not be required to be interconnected and hard wired where the alterations or repairs do not result in the removal of interior wall or ceiling finishes exposing the structure.
(e) Flammable liquids. Flammable liquids shall not be stored in any roominghouse, lodginghouse, or any dwelling in quantities exceeding one gallon.
(1) All such flammable liquids of one gallon or less shall be stored in sealed metal containers or safety cans not exceeding one gallon capacity and only one such container shall be allowed in each unit, as set out herein. Non-water-based paints, varnishes, and similar products used for decorating therein shall be stored in sealed metal containers.
(2) No flammable liquids such as gasoline, diesel fuel, motor oils, or any similar product shall be stored inside a dwelling unit.
(3) Fueled equipment, including but not limited to motorcycles, mopeds, lawn care equipment and portable cooking equipment, shall not be stored, operated or repaired within a dwelling unit.
(4) In any structure containing three or more dwelling units, no person shall kindle, maintain, or cause any open fire or open flame on any balcony above ground level, or on any ground floor patio within 15 feet of a structure.
(5) No person shall store or use any fuel, barbecue, torch, or other similar heating or lighting chemical or device in the locations designated in subsection (e)(4) of this section. Exception: Listed electric or gas-fired barbecue grills that are permanently mounted and wired or plumbed to the building's gas supply or electrical system and that maintain a minimum clearance of 18 inches on all sides, unless listed for lesser clearances, may be installed on balconies and patios when approved by the fire chief.
(f) Attic rooms. In dwellings erected prior to July 1, 1972, dwelling units and rooming units may be located in the attic of a dwelling that is not more than two stories and attic in height, provided that the following conditions are complied with:
(1) The attic shall have a habitable floor area exceeding 50 percent of the floor below.
(2) At least one-half of the floor area of every habitable room shall have a ceiling height of seven feet.
(3) There shall be compliance with all the provisions of the zoning chapter and all other provisions of the rental housing maintenance code.
(g) Restricted attic use. The use of the attic in a two-story and attic dwelling shall be confined strictly to the use of the family or families occupying the first and/or second floors of such dwellings. Such attics shall not be occupied by more than three persons.
(h) Heating plants. In all multiple dwellings over two stories and basement in height or containing more than four dwelling units on any floor above the first floor or containing more than ten sleeping rooms on any floor above the first floor of such building, the heating plant shall be separated from the rest of the building by not less than a one-hour fire-resistive occupancy separation as defined in the building code, or in lieu thereof, a sprinkler system approved by the fire chief.
(i) Carbon monoxide alarm. Carbon monoxide detectors are required within ten feet of all bedrooms.
(1) Approved carbon monoxide alarm means a device meant for the purpose of detecting carbon monoxide that is certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory to conform to the latest Underwriters Laboratories Standards (known as UL2034 standards).
(2) Exceptions; in certain multifamily dwellings.
a. Multifamily dwellings may have approved and operational carbon monoxide alarms installed between 15 and 25 feet of carbon monoxide producing central fixtures and equipment provided there is a centralized alarm system or other mechanism for responsible parties to hear the alarm at all times.
b. An owner of a multifamily dwelling that contains minimal or no sources of carbon monoxide may be exempted from the requirements of the statute provided that such owner certifies to the state commissioner of public safety that such multifamily dwelling poses no foreseeable carbon monoxide risk to the health and safety of the dwelling units.
(j) Egress. Dwellings erected after July 1, 1972, shall have and shall maintain the egress facilities required by the state building code at the time of erection. Dwellings existing prior to July 1, 1972, shall be provided with egress facilities as required by said state building code or in compliance with the following regulations: Every habitable unit shall have a safe unobstructed means of egress. Every dwelling unit located above the first floor and every roominghouse where three or more roomers occupy one or more rooming units located above the first floor and every basement dwelling unit shall have at least two independent egress stairways which shall be located remote from each other, and one of such stairways shall be an inside stairway. Every such egress shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) Every dwelling with an occupant load of ten persons or fewer shall have one approved means of egress. Dwellings located on the second story shall have at least one approved means of egress if the occupant load of the entire story does not exceed ten persons. Second stories having an occupant load of more than ten persons and all other stories and basements shall have not less than two approved means of egress. Exception: Only one approved means of egress shall be required from a basement within an individual dwelling unit when the occupancy load of such basement is ten or fewer.
(2) Refer to section 103-92 for more information on measurements, placements, build dates, etc., for stairways, handrails, and guardrails.
(3) All required egress stairs shall be easily accessible from every dwelling or dwelling unit without passing through any room other than public, shared or communal areas. Egress shall lead directly to grade, and such grade shall have an unobstructed path of travel to a public way.
(4) Egress doors connected to public, shared or communal areas must be easily opened from the inside along the path of egress and remain unlocked or be of a type which can be unlocked without the use of a key or any special skill or knowledge. Where multiple dwellings have more than five dwelling units, or more than ten rooming units sharing the same means of egress, the doors serving such egress shall swing in the direction of travel and be self-closing and latching. All stair tower doors located in multiple dwellings which are four or more stories in height, and where the dwelling units are not individually owned or occupied, shall be openable from the inside of the stair tower without the use of a key or any special skill or knowledge when such stair tower doors open into a public, shared or communal area. No person shall lock, fasten closed, block open or in any other way tamper with the operation of self-closing fire doors so that said doors do not function as required by this section.
(5) Any required means of egress exposed to the elements shall be kept clear of rubbish, snow, ice and other such obstructions at all times. All vertical ladders and other emergency fire escapes not recognized as a required means of egress shall be maintained in good order and repair.
(k) Address posting. Every dwelling shall have the proper street address number conspicuously posted in the front and in the rear or on a building accessory to such dwelling at the rear so as to be readily identified in case of fire or other emergency. The rear address number may be omitted if there is no public way at the rear of the building. The numbers required by this section shall be mounted on a permanently fixed surface, the numbers shall be Arabic, not Roman numerals or words, and shall be of sufficient size, four inches minimum height, and of a contrasting color so as to be readily distinguishable and readable from the public way at the front and rear.
(l) Ventilation shafts. No ventilation shafts or ducts shall exhaust or terminate within a building. All such shafts or ducts shall lead to the outside.
(m) Transom windows. Openings such as transom windows shall not be permitted into public hallways. Existing transoms shall be permanently fixed in the closed position and all such openings shall be enclosed with materials having a fire-resistance rating of one hour or equal to that of the walls adjoining such transoms or openings.
(n) Storage near heating plant. No person shall store or permit the storage of any combustible material, other than fuel used in conjunction with the heating system, within three feet of any heating plant or furnace.
(o) Exit signs.
(1) All exits in multiple dwellings having ten or more dwelling units on any one floor, or in roominghouses having more than five rooming units on any one floor, or in any multiple dwellings having a total of ten or more of any combination of the aforesaid dwelling units and rooming units on a floor shall be marked with red, internally illuminated exit signs that will be clearly visible from hallways, corridors and public areas.
(2) Where exit signs are not visible, there shall be illuminated directional markers indicating the location and direction to follow to reach such exits. Such internally illuminated signs shall be marked "Exit" in letters at least four inches high. Exit signs provided in accordance with the building code when properly maintained shall also be acceptable.
(p) Minimum requirements. These requirements are considered to be minimum and not maximum. The city has adopted the state fire code. All properties subject to this article are subject to the state fire code, as adopted and amended by the city, and shall, in the case of discrepancy, supersede this article.