With the advent of the State of Indiana adopting the 200 International Fire Code, which has been re-named the Indiana Fire Code, certain new rules affecting multi-family occupancies, which include apartment complexes, have been established.

In May 2003 I attempted to make apartment complexes aware of the regulations regarding the use of charcoal grills and gas grills on balconies above the first floor and the 10-foot from combustible siding requirements. I was recently asked to research live Christmas trees in multi-family settings. According to the Code apartments are classified at Residential 2 (R-2) occupancies. The following is verbatim from the 2003 Indiana Fire Code:

This Code passage indicates that if the apartment complex were not protected with an approved automatic fire sprinkler system, live Christmas trees would be a violation to the Code.

It is not the intention of the Carmel Fire Department to regulate live Christmas trees or other decorative vegetation in tenant’s apartments. This would only affect common or public areas of the complex and would be enforced by our department. We intend to allow each individual apartment management company the discretionary power to allow what they choose to for a tenant’s under their leasing control.

Respectfully,