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Chicago businesses would have a new crime-fighting weapon — electric security fences that zap would-be intruders — thanks to an ordinance advanced Tuesday over the Chicago Fire Department’s objections.

The new ordinance, championed by Finance Committee Chairman Edward M. Burke (14th), would authorize electric security fences at least eight-feet high at all commercial properties so long as they’re not adjacent to residential buildings.

“It’s just one other way of permitting merchants in Chicago to protect their property,’’ Burke said.

But Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner John McNicholas warned the Finance Committee that electric fences could make it more difficult for firefighters to access burning buildings.

McNicholas was not appeased by the pen jokingly tested by aldermen that delivered one-tenth of the 7,000-volt jolt that an electric fence would administer.

“You had a pretty good reaction. I can only imagine what that would do to a group of firefighters responding to a scene and we had electrified fencing,” he said.

“Firefighters, police officers — we carry a lot of equipment…When we are making our move, the last thing we want is to get zapped.”

McNicholas was equally unimpressed when told that firefighters could be given master keys to switch off the power of an electric fence.

“Let’s say there’s poor maintenance of equipment and we can’t get the power secured. Or let’s say the signs have been taken down and we don’t even know it’s an electrified fence. We have a problem. If we can’t get the power shut down to the structure and there’s a fire, we’re forced to stand back and watch,” he said.

Michael Pate, director of business development for Sentry Security Systems, said the electric fences installed by his company are powered by the same 12-volt battery used in cars. “There has never been a serious injury or death from the use of this technology,” he said.

“We are probably the only product out there that basically stops crime,’’ Pate claimed. “Wherever I’m installed, usually criminal activity declines to the point of non-existence.’’

Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) said alarm bells go off whenever a private company “comes before this body to sell its services in such a way that it’s asking for a modification” of the city code.

“I’m not convinced that this is even useful here in the city of Chicago,” Fioretti said.

“I hope the reception that’s met regarding this ordinance is gonna be cold in this City Council. I don’t think this is good for us. I don’t think the case has been convincing at all for us to change the ordinance to allow this.”

Currently, electric fences are legal in Chicago, but only to secure railroad facilities.