Burleson, TX Building Safety: Fire Sprinkler Requirements (2026)

The City Council adopts the 2021 International Residential Code in § 10-171 as the residential code of the city and amends it in § 10-172, last revised by Ord. No. 5247-10-2023 on 10-2-2023. Amendment (16) replaces Section R313.2 with a single mandate: an automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in one- and two-family dwellings in accordance to the adopted Fire Code and the amendments thereto. The Fire Code in question is the 2021 International Fire Code, adopted in § 38-191 and incorporated by reference. Section 38-192 states that the 2021 IFC Amendments are an attachment to Chapter 38, so the system design details sit in that attachment and not in the text of § 10-172.

Amendment (10) removes Exception 6 from Section R302.2.6, the exception for townhouse units protected by a fire sprinkler system complying with Section P2904 or NFPA 13D. Amendment (11) adds Exception 3 to Section R302.3: two-family dwelling units separated by a property line through the structure shall be separated as required for townhouses. Amendment (7) defines TOWNHOUSE as a single-family dwelling unit constructed in a group of three or more attached units separated by property lines, each unit extending from foundation to roof with a yard or public way on at least two sides.

Beyond houses, the amended building code in § 10-142 requires an automatic sprinkler system throughout all self-service storage facilities (Section 903.2.9.5) and throughout all buildings with a building area of 6,000 sq. ft. or greater (Section 903.2.11.9). Under § 38-193 the fire marshal can require an installer affidavit for automatic fire extinguishing systems, filed with the fire marshal's office before final approval. The Building Permits and Inspections Department, under the building official, enforces the residential code (§ 10-53).