(1) As used in this section:

(a) ‘District’ means a rural fire protection district organized pursuant to ORS Chapter 478.

(b) ‘Fire safety system’ means a device or series of devices that protects structures from damage or destruction by fire, protects people from injury by fire or minimizes the effects of fire. ‘Fire safety system’ includes, but is not limited to, automatic fire sprinkler systems.

(c) ‘Multifamily housing’ means a structure established primarily to provide residential spaces and that provides more than one living unit. ‘Multifamily housing’ does not include nursing homes, adult foster homes, hospitals, motels or hotels, dormitories or state institutions.

(d) ‘Owner’ includes a purchaser under a recorded instrument of sale.

(2) A district may, by ordinance, establish a program that pays or repays to landlords part of the costs of installing fire safety systems in multifamily housing existing within the district on the effective date of the ordinance. Except as provided in this subsection, the district may establish the parameters of the program. A payment or repayment rate under the program may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of installing the fire safety system. The payment or repayment amount available for a property may not exceed the total amount paid during the preceding 10 years for all property taxes on the property, less any payment or repayment amount already provided for fire safety system installation on the property. The program must provide for the owner of the multifamily housing to apply on a form approved by the district. The program must include a uniform process for the evaluation of an application submitted by the owner of the multifamily housing. The uniform process must provide for a public hearing to determine whether the property qualifies for payment or repayment by the district. [2001 c.614 § 2]

See note under 478.880.

FIRE PREVENTION CODE; FIRE PERMITS