Family Blames Flooding on Bellaire Sprinkler Ordinance

HOUSTON—A Bellaire homeowner who has been flooded twice is blaming the water woes on a city ordinance which is supposed to keep residents safe.

Bellaire enforces an ordinance requiring large single- and dual-family dwellings to have sprinklers in the attic and in finished third-story rooms. City officials say the ordinance keeps people safe.

“There must be something wrong with the policy,” said Michelle Minces. “How many times does a home have to flood before you fix the problem?”

The Minces own a 4,500 square-foot home in the 500 block of Winslow Lane. The three-story structure has been flooded twice by a small sprinkler head located in a third-floor room. The most recent incident occurred on Monday.

“We don’t know what we’re going to do,” said Minces. “It’s like starting all over again.”

The sprinkler in the Mince’s third-floor room is calibrated to go off at 140 degrees. Their attorney believes hot air seeping from the adjacent attic is to blame.

“The problem is the ordinance, which just doesn’t work given the architecture,” said Jason Gibson of the Gibson Law Firm. “Bellaire needs to take a look at their policies and adopt something that protects lives and property.”

Several communities in the Houston area have similar ordinances in place. Last year, the governor signed a law prohibiting municipalities from enacting residential sprinkler mandates for single- and dual-family residences.