Fire Lane Code by City: Dallas & Fort Worth

Both Dallas and Fort Worth have adopted the 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) with local amendments. The rules are similar, but the marking specs differ enough that a template used in one city will fail inspection in the other.

Dallas Fire Code — key requirements

• Fire apparatus access roads must remain unobstructed at all times, with a minimum unobstructed width of 24 feet (26 feet where hydrants are located).
• Vertical clearance: minimum 14 feet.
• Curbs of designated fire lanes must be painted red on both the top and vertical face.
• Lettering: "FIRE LANE — TOW AWAY ZONE" in white block letters, minimum 3 inches tall, stenciled on the red curb at intervals not exceeding 25 feet.
• Where no curb exists, a 6-inch-wide red stripe with the same white lettering must be applied to the pavement edge.
• Signs (R7-1 style) are required at each entrance to the fire lane and at intervals not exceeding 50 feet.

Fort Worth Fire Code — key requirements

• Minimum unobstructed width: 24 feet (26 feet at hydrants); vertical clearance 14 feet.
• Curbs must be painted red top and face, extending the full designated length.
• Lettering: "FIRE LANE" in 4-inch white block letters stenciled on the red curb at intervals not exceeding 30 feet.
• Signs required at each fire lane entrance and spaced no more than 50 feet apart, mounted 7 feet above grade to the bottom of the sign.
• Property owners are responsible for maintenance — faded paint is a code violation, not a maintenance suggestion.

Common inspection failures we fix

• Curbs repainted but lettering never re-stenciled after sealcoat.
• Wrong lettering interval (30 ft used in Dallas, or 25 ft used in Fort Worth).
• Missing "TOW AWAY ZONE" wording in Dallas.
• Faded red — TxDOT-grade traffic red fades to pink in 18 months without a thermoplastic or upgraded paint system.
• Signs mounted too low, or absent at the entry point of the lane.

Suburbs matter too

Plano, Frisco, Arlington, Irving, and the other DFW suburbs have all adopted the 2021 IFC with their own amendments — spacing intervals and lettering specifics vary. Before restriping fire lanes on a portfolio, verify with each jurisdiction's fire marshal or ask us to pull the current amendment.

Sources: City of Dallas Fire Code (Chapter 5, Fire Apparatus Access Roads handout); City of Fort Worth Fire Lane, Hydrant, Access and System Requirements (2021 IFC + City amendments, effective 4/1/22).