Subdivision 1. Definitions. For purposes of this section the following definitions shall apply:

(a) "Lodging house" means any building or portion thereof containing not more than five guest rooms which are used or intended to be used for sleeping purposes by guests and where rent is paid in money, goods, labor or otherwise.

(b) "Hospital" has the meaning given it in section 144.50.

(c) "Hotel" means any building or portion thereof containing six or more guest rooms intended or designed to be used, or which are used, rented, hired out to be occupied, or which are occupied for sleeping purposes by guests, and which is required to be licensed pursuant to chapter 157.

(d) "Nursing home" has the meaning given it in section 144A.01.

(e) "School" means any public or private school or educational institution.

Subd. 2. Requirements. All hospitals, nursing homes, schools, lodging houses and hotels shall be operated and maintained in compliance with the State Fire Code as promulgated pursuant to section 326B.02, subdivision 6.

Subd. 3. Local ordinance. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a local unit of government otherwise authorized by law, from enforcing or adopting ordinances or regulations with standards equal to, in addition to, or more stringent than the requirements of the State Fire Code. Any ordinance or regulation adopted by a local unit which differs from the State Fire Code must be directly related to the safeguarding of life and property from the hazards of fire, uniform for each class or kind of building covered, and may not exceed the applicable requirements of the Uniform Building Code adopted pursuant to sections 326B.101 to 326B.151.

Subd. 4. Penalty. A person who violates a provision of this section shall be penalized as set forth in section 299F.011, subdivision 6.

History: 1978 c 777 s 8; 1981 c 106 s 14; 1984 c 544 s 89; 2005 c 136 art 9 s 14; 2007 c 140 art 3 s 6; art 4 s 61; art 13 s 4