Dive summary:

• In Forest City, Ore., officials thought the state fire code's property-line setback of 3 feet for requiring non-combustible siding and roofing for houses was letting buildings get a little too cozy, and they wanted to make it 5 feet in their town.
• The city council was hearing an ordinance that would change the rules for four developments that are already built or are being built, but the members then learned they probably cannot go there.
• The city's community development director told the council members that some state rules allow local governments to be more strict, but that portion of the fire code is not one of them – setting a statewide number instead.

From the article:

"So we have building people making the decisions when it’s really a fire issue," (Councilor Ron Thompson)  said. "I sort of question that." ...