Hays County now has a Countywide Fire Code.

The new standards and rules were adopted by the Commissioners Court last month. The code became effective Jan. 1 and is designed to provide the basis for fire protection for the occupants of new construction as well as authorize the Fire Marshal to make “fire and life safety decisions” on existing occupancies.

As part of the vote, the county also declared its intent to enforce the 2018 International Fire Code which, among other things, provid...