Winona, Minn., City Code ch. 33A (2026) § 33A.09

33A.09 - FIRE PROTECTION
All dwellings, dwelling units, roominghouses, rooming units, residential retreat centers, bed and
breakfasts, and tourist homes let for occupancy to another shall comply with the following
requirements:

       (a)     General. All buildings or portions thereof shall be provided with the degree of
               fire-resistive construction, fire warning devices and fire extinguishing devices as
               provided by this chapter and the Fire Code.

       (b)     Corridors. Corridors in apartment building serving an occupant load of ten or
               more shall have walls and ceilings of not less than one-hour fire resistive
               construction. Existing lath and plaster walls in good condition are permitted for
               corridor walls and ceilings and for occupancy separations when approved by the
               Building Official or Building Inspector.

       (c)     Corridor Doors. Doors located in a 1 hour fire-resistive corridor, not within a
               dwelling unit, shall be a reasonably smoke and draft tight 1 ¾” solid core wood
               door or a 20 minute fire-rated door assemble. Doors shall be self closing by
               means of a door closure or a pair of spring loaded hinges and shall be
               maintained so as to securely latch when closed by the closure or spring loaded
               hinges.

       (d)     Openings in Corridors. Transom windows and openings other than doors are not
               permitted into corridors unless they are a fixed one-hour fire-rated assembly
               (e.g.fire rated glass) or have been covered with 5/8” type X gypsum board
               applied to both sides of the transom. A smoke damper with a one-hour fire-
               resistive rating shall protect ventilation ducts with openings into corridors.

       (e)     Smoke Detectors. Smoke detectors shall be installed as required by this
               Section. A minimum of one detector shall be located in the basement and each
               story. A detector shall be located outside of bedrooms in the immediate vicinity of
               the bedrooms and inside each bedroom. Smoke alarms shall be installed 3 feet
               or more horizontally from the door or opening of a bathroom that contains a
               bathtub or shower unless this would prevent placement of a smoke alarm
               required by this section. The Building Official or Building Inspector may require
               additional smoke detectors where additional protection may be deemed
               necessary.

               Where more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within an individual
               dwelling unit, the alarm devices shall be interconnected in such a manner that
               the actuation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual dwelling
               unit. Physical interconnection of smoke alarms shall not be required where listed
               wireless alarms are installed and all alarms sound upon activation of one alarm.

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EXCEPTION: Interconnection of smoke alarms in existing areas shall
                not be required where alterations or repairs do not result in removal of
                interior finishes exposing the structure.

      Combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms shall be permitted in lieu of
      smoke alarms.

      Smoke alarms installed in existing areas shall be permitted to be battery powered
      provided any alterations or repairs do not result in the removal of interior wall or
      ceiling finishes exposing the structure. If repairs or alterations will result in the
      removal of interior wall or ceiling finishes and expose the structure, than the
      smoke alarms shall receive their primary power from the building wiring where
      such wiring is served from a commercial source and, where primary power is
      interrupted, shall receive power from a battery.

      The occupant of a dwelling or rooming unit must notify the building owner or
      building manager within 24 hours of discovering that a detector is not functioning.
      The building owner or manager shall take immediate action to render the
      detector operational or replace it.

      Any occupant, owner or manager of a dwelling or rooming unit who willfully
      disables a smoke detector or causes it to be nonfunctioning is guilty of a
      misdemeanor. If the unit is occupied by more than one tenant, each tenant shall
      be held accountable.

(f)   Carbon Monoxide Alarms. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed outside of
      and not more than 10 feet from each separate sleeping area or bedroom. Alarms
      shall be installed on each level containing sleeping areas or bedrooms. Where a
      fuel-burning appliance is located within a bedroom or its attached bathroom, a
      carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed within the bedroom.

      Where more than one carbon monoxide alarm is required to be installed within
      an individual dwelling unit, the alarm devices shall be interconnected in such a
      manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the
      individual dwelling unit. Physical interconnection of carbon monoxide alarms
      shall not be required where listed wireless alarms are installed and all alarms
      sound upon activation of one alarm.

      EXCEPTION: Interconnection of carbon monoxide alarms in existing areas shall
      not be required where alterations or repairs do not result in removal of interior
      finishes exposing the structure.

      Combination carbon monoxide and smoke alarms shall be permitted in lieu of
      carbon monoxide alarms.

      Carbon monoxide alarms installed in existing areas shall be permitted to be
      battery powered provided any alterations or repairs do not result in the removal
      of interior wall or ceiling finishes exposing the structure. If repairs or alterations
      will result in the removal of interior wall or ceiling finishes and expose the
      structure, than the carbon monoxide alarms shall receive their primary power
      from the building wiring where such wiring is served from a commercial source
      and, where primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a battery.

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(g)   Fire Alarm System. A fire alarm system meeting the requirements of the
      Minnesota State Fire Code shall be installed in apartment buildings containing 16
      or more dwelling units or exceeding 2 stories in height.

      EXCEPTIONS:

      1.     A fire alarm system is not required in buildings not over two stories in
             height where all dwelling units or sleeping units and contiguous attic and
             crawl spaces are separated from each other and public or common areas
             by at least 1-hour fire partitions and each dwelling unit or sleeping unit
             has an exit directly to a public way, exit court or yard.

      2.     A fire alarm system is not required in buildings which are equipped
             throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance
             with the Fire Code and the notification appliances will activate upon
             sprinkler flow.

      3.     A fire alarm system is not required in buildings that do not have interior
             corridors serving dwelling units and are protected by an approved
             automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with the Fire Code and
             provided that dwelling units either have a means of egress door opening
             directly to an exterior exit access that leads directing to the exits or are
             served by open-ended corridors designed in accordance with the Fire
             Code.

             Fire alarm systems shall be tested in accordance with the procedures and
             frequency required pursuant to the Minnesota State Fire Code and its
             corresponding regulations, as the same may be amended from time to
             time. Contractors who perform inspections, testing and/or maintenance
             services on fire alarm systems or any other similar or related systems
             within the City shall submit all compliant and non-compliant reports, and
             such other reports and records, in accordance with and as required by the
             Minnesota State Fire Code, to the Winona Fire Department using the
             method approved by the Fire Chief. The method selected for filing
             reports and records may include electronic or computer based reporting
             or recording systems as determined by the Fire Chief.

(h)   Fire Sprinkler Systems. A fire sprinkler system shall be installed in all new
      apartment buildings, buildings converted into apartment buildings and in
      apartment buildings during major renovations as required by the Fire Marshal,
      and throughout all building with a Group R fire area in accordance with the
      Building Code. Fire sprinkler systems shall be installed in accordance with the
      Building Code and the Minnesota State Fire Code.

      Fire sprinkler systems shall be tested in accordance with the procedures and
      frequency required pursuant to the Minnesota State Fire Code and its
      corresponding regulations, as the same may be amended from time to time.
      Contractors who perform inspections, testing and/or maintenance services on fire
      sprinkler systems or any other similar or related systems within the City shall
      submit all compliant and non-compliant reports, and such other reports and
      records, in accordance with and as required by the Minnesota State Fire Code, to

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the Winona Fire Department using the method approved by the Fire Chief. The
               method selected for filing reports and records may include electronic or computer
               based reporting or recording systems as determined by the Fire Chief.

       (i)     Fire Extinguishers. All rental units shall be equipped with a fire extinguisher with
               a minimum rating of 2A 10BC. The extinguisher shall be located within the
               individual dwelling unit or in a common hallway or corridor within 50 feet of the
               dwelling unit door.

               Fire extinguishers shall be serviced at least annually. A tag with the name of the
               servicing company and the service date shall be affixed to the extinguisher and
               shall remain affixed until the next servicing.

       Ord. No. 3978 11/03/2014 Ord. No. 4063 12/18/2017 Ord. No. 4151 06/07/21