Oswego Debates Sprinkler Mandate For Newly Built Single-Family Homes

Oswego officials are mulling whether to adopt an ordinance requiring fire suppression sprinklers to be installed in newly constructed single-family residential homes.

Several Oswego Village Board members said Tuesday night they are against the mandate, citing the burden it would put on developers in the current fledgling economy.

“Yorkville tried this months ago and met with a lot of resentment,” said board member Tony Giles. “A lot of developers came in and voiced concern about that. They flat out said ‘We won’t build homes here.’ It does have a serious impact on the builder.”

Board member Jeff Lawson said he thinks the decision should be left up to the homeowner.

“At this point I don’t see the argument to make me vote for this,” he said. “We have to balance personal liberty. It seems like we’re always figuring out ways to take people’s liberties.”

Some board members wanted more data from the Oswego Fire Protection District on home fires in the village in the last 10 years, as well as what other area municipalities are doing before making a decision.

“While I want to think about the cost to the developer and homeowner, I feel my charge as a trustee is to keep our community safe,” said Gail Johnson. “I look at it not only from an economic standpoint but also what’s in the bet interest of safety. I’d like to know what our surrounding towns are doing.”

If village officials choose to adopt the ordinance which would go into effect Jan. 1, they are required to give builders 90-days notice.

Currently, about 74 jurisdictions in Illinois have adopted similar ordinances for single family homes, including Aurora, Lisle and Naperville.

Village officials said in their research of the ordinance, the estimated cost to install a sprinkler system in a single-family home could add about $6,000 to the price of a home.

Board members plan to revisit the issue in September.