BULLETIN 10

SPECIFICATIONS FOR MARKING OF

FIRE LANES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY

1.      The purpose of these specifications is to establish general criteria for the marking of designated fire lanes when required by the City of Charlotte Fire Department. Due to various conditions encountered such as length or width of roadway, limited space adjacent to roadway, etc., no specific criteria can be set. Any variance from the pavement marking and signage specifications on the following pages shall require prior approval of the fire official.

2. The Charlotte Fire Department may require property owners to install fire lanes on private property as the result of
   1. A request by property owners, or others, to the Fire Prevention Bureau for consideration of fire lanes
   2. A request by a Charlotte Fire Department Fire Captain or Battalion Chief where they deem a fire lane is necessary
   3. A request by a Fire Plans Examiner, who during the plans review process for a new property, deems a fire lane is necessary
   4. An inspection by a Charlotte Fire Department Fire Inspector who deems a fire lane is necessary
3. Citations issued to violators for parking in designated fire lanes may be issued by a Charlotte Fire Department Officer, a Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Officer or a Fire Inspector. The penalty fee is $100.00 for each occurrence and in extreme cases, the law gives officers with the Police Department the authority to tow vehicles unlawfully parked in fire lanes.
4. Specifications for fire lane signs are as follows:
   1. Fire lane signs including shape, color, dimensions, legends, mounting height and distance from curb are detailed in figure 1
   2. All signs shall be made of reflectorized sheeting and conform to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices published by the Federal Highway Administration
   3. Signs shall be installed on the side of direction of travel and shall face the traffic they are intended to serve
5. Specifications for pavement marking are as follows:
   1. Specifications for fire lane markings including lane widths; word markings and spacing are detailed in figure 2
   2. All lane and word markings shall be white in color and installed using reflectorized highway marking material
   3. Word markings and letters shall conform to the Standard Alphabets for Highway Signs and Pavement Markings published by the Federal Highway Administration
6. Maintenance of fire lane markings and signs shall be the responsibility of the property owner. All markings and signs shall be maintained legible and shall be replaced without delay as necessary. Removal of fire lane signs or markings shall require prior approval of the Charlotte Fire Department.