Kingston Fire Department Fire Marshal's Office

08/13/2026

IMPORTANT BUILDING CODE UPDATE

The Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission (OUBCC) has adopted the following 2024 International Codes, with Oklahoma amendments:

• International Building Code
• International Existing Building Code
• International Fire Code
• International Fuel Gas Code
• International Mechanical Code
• International Plumbing Code
• International Residential Code

These codes will take effect statewide on September 14, 2026.

Beginning September 14, 2026, all new permit applications submitted to the Town of Kingston must comply with the applicable 2024 code editions, OUBCC amendments, and local requirements. This includes applicable permits for new residential and commercial construction, additions, alterations, remodeling projects, changes of occupancy, and plumbing, mechanical, and fuel-gas work.

Construction plans, specifications, code analyses, and supporting documents submitted on or after the effective date must be prepared using the applicable 2024 codes. Plans prepared solely under the previously adopted 2018 codes may require revisions before a permit can be approved or issued.

Contractors, design professionals, property owners, and developers with projects planned near the transition date are encouraged to review the updated requirements and coordinate with the Town of Kingston before submitting their applications.

Additional information and copies of the OUBCC amendments are available at:
https://oklahoma.gov/oubcc.html

Questions regarding local permitting requirements may be directed to the Fire Marshal's Office.

Serving on a Technical Code Review committee offers the unique experience of having a direct influence on the minimum standard for construction in the State of Oklahoma. Construction codes are what protect the citizens of the state and regulate your profession. Commit to making a difference in your....

07/14/2026

🔑 Key Box Program – Voluntary Compliance Now Underway

The Kingston Fire Department is encouraging commercial property owners, businesses, multi-family occupancies, and other secured facilities to voluntarily install an approved emergency key box.

When emergency responders encounter locked gates, doors, or other secured access points, valuable time can be lost attempting to gain entry. A properly installed key box allows firefighters to quickly access a building during fires, medical emergencies, alarm activations, or other life-threatening incidents—without unnecessary damage to doors or locks.

The International Fire Code states:

"Where access to or within a structure or an area is restricted because of secured openings or where immediate access is necessary for life-saving or fire-fighting purposes, the fire code official is authorized to require a key box to be installed in an approved location. The key box shall be of an approved type listed in accordance with UL 1037 and shall contain keys to gain necessary access as required by the fire code official."

At this time, the Kingston Fire Department is implementing this program as voluntary compliance to allow business and property owners ample opportunity to participate before the program transitions to a mandatory retrofit requirement in the future.

Benefits of installing a key box include:
• Faster emergency access for firefighters and EMS.
• Reduced property damage caused by forced entry.
• Improved occupant and responder safety.
• Secure storage of building access keys in a UL 1037-listed key box that is accessible only by authorized fire department personnel.

Property owners interested in participating during this voluntary phase are encouraged to contact the Kingston Fire Marshal's Office for approved key box specifications, installation requirements, and placement guidance.

Working together today helps ensure a safer community tomorrow.

05/26/2026

📢 Important Building Code Update for Oklahoma

At the close of the 2026 legislative session, Oklahoma lawmakers approved the recommendation of the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission (OUBCC) to transition from the 2018 International Code suite to the 2024 International Code suite.

The newly adopted codes will become effective statewide in September 2026.

The updated code package includes revisions to building, fire, residential, mechanical, plumbing, fuel gas, energy conservation, existing building, and property maintenance requirements. These changes are intended to enhance public safety, improve building resilience, incorporate advancements in construction practices and technology, and provide greater consistency with current national standards.

Contractors, design professionals, developers, business owners, and property owners planning future construction or renovation projects are encouraged to begin familiarizing themselves with the 2024 code requirements ahead of the September implementation date.

Our office will be reviewing the changes and providing additional guidance and educational resources as the effective date approaches.

For questions regarding local permitting, inspections, or code compliance, please contact our office.

05/20/2026

UPDATE: Mr. Draper has been in contact with our office and is aware of the issue. Thank you to everyone who reached out and contacted our office.

Greetings from the Fire Marshal's Office. We are trying to reach to owner of record for this property, Jason Draper. If anyone knows or has contact with him, we ask that he get in contact with us to resolve the issues with this property. Thank you in advance for any information that may help.

04/17/2026

04/13/2026

For business owners who may want to know what inspections are done when building a new building within the Town of Kingston, here are the guidelines according to the code.

[A] 110.1 General. Construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official and such construction or work shall remain visible and able to be accessed for inspection purposes until approved. Approval as a result of an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction. Inspections presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction shall not be valid. It shall be the duty of the owner or the owner’s authorized agent to cause the work to remain visible and able to be accessed for inspection purposes. Neither the building official nor the jurisdiction shall be liable for expense entailed in the removal or replacement of any material required to allow inspection.

[A] 110.2 Preliminary inspection. Before issuing a permit, the building official is authorized to examine or cause to be examined buildings, structures and sites for which an application has been filed.

[A] 110.3.1 Footing and foundation inspection. Footing and foundation inspections shall be made after excavations for footings are complete and any required reinforcing steel is in place. For concrete foundations, any required forms shall be in place prior to inspection. Materials for the foundation shall be on the job, except where concrete is ready mixed in accordance with ASTM C94, the concrete need not be on the job.

[A] 110.3.2 Concrete slab and under-floor inspection. Concrete slab and under-floor inspections shall be made after in-slab or under-floor reinforcing steel and building service equipment, conduit, piping accessories and other ancillary equipment items are in place, but before any concrete is placed or floor sheathing installed, including the subfloor.

[A] 110.3.4 Frame inspection. Framing inspections shall be made after the roof deck or sheathing, all framing, fire-blocking and bracing are in place and pipes, chimneys and vents to be concealed are complete and the rough electrical, plumbing, heating wires, pipes and ducts are approved.

[A] 110.3.5 Lath, gypsum board and gypsum panel product inspection. INSIGHTS Lath, gypsum board and gypsum panel product inspections shall be made after lathing, gypsum board and gypsum panel products, interior and exterior, are in place, but before any plastering is applied or gypsum board and gypsum panel product joints and fasteners are taped and finished. Exception: Gypsum board and gypsum panel products that are not part of a fire-resistance-rated assembly or a shear assembly.

[A] 110.3.9 Other inspections. In addition to the inspections specified in Sections 110.3.1 through 110.3.8, the building official is authorized to make or require other inspections of any construction work to ascertain compliance with the provisions of this code and other laws that are enforced by the department of building safety.

[A] 110.3.11 Final inspection. The final inspection shall be made after all work required by the building permit is completed.

04/03/2026

Over the last 2 days both the Fire Marshal and Assistant Fire Marshal attending training in Ardmore over NFPA 1033. This class is designed to review the JPR’s (Job Performance Requirements) as associated with fire investigations. A big thanks goes out to the Ardmore Fire Department, the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal’s Office, Fire Investigation Training Group, and our own Administrators for allowing us to continue in our training and mission of making us the most knowledgeable we can be.

04/01/2026

A congratulations is in order to our assistance fire marshal Victor Seeley in graduating from Durant Police Department’s reserve academy last night. After 6 months of training he is now a reserve commissioned officer through the Fire Marshal’s Office.

03/31/2026

Annual "Keep Marshall County Beautiful" coming soon! See attached information.