In order to ensure accessibility to commercial and some gated residential properties, the City of Milton has a Knox Box Ordinance as part of its public safety-related legislation.

This ordinance requires commercial buildings to have a "Knox Box" as a standard feature on their premises. A Knox Box is a secure means for Milton firefighters to access a building in an emergency.

This ordinance requires the businesses or multifamily/gated communities to keep the keys for all exterior doors current, and to place the Knox box somewhere easily accessible by Fire Department personnel (e.g. not somewhere we'd need ladder truck to access.) In turn, the Milton Fire-Rescue Department and our automatic aid partner, Alpharetta Fire and Emergency Services, has very strictly controlled keys that can give them access to the Knox Box in an emergency.

Both in the interest of public safety and legal compliance, we ask that all business owners and property managers please review the ordinance and keep their keys current. Fire crews will include a check of the Knox Box keys as part of the annual Milton business inspections.

Deputy Fire Chief Alex Fortner coordinates the Knox Box program for the City of Milton. He can be contacted at fire.marshal@miltonga.gov or by phone at 678-242-2541 with questions regarding the purpose and administration of the Knox Box System. However, building contractors should be quite familiar with the process as this is common requirement in metropolitan communities.

Click to find out how to order and install a Knox Box, or call 800-552-5669. Once on the Knox website, choose the box type (based on your gate or occupancy’s needs) and enter the zip code for Milton (30004) and choose the “Milton Department of Public Safety” option.

Please ensure that you do not order a box for “Alpharetta,” as it is keyed differently from Milton.