Bellflower Municipal Code Ch. 15.40 Fire Code

California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 9 (the 2025 California Fire Code) with amendments, including Section 503 and Appendices Chapter 4, B, C, D, H, I, M, and O is adopted by reference as the Fire Code of the City of Bellflower.

In accordance with California Government Code Section 50022.6, one copy of the chapters and appendices must remain on file with the Building Official within the Department of Planning and must be at all times maintained by the Building Official for use and examination by the public.

Only the Bellflower Building Official is authorized to exercise the authority in CBSC Section 105.4, including, without limitation, issuing building permits.

(Ord. 1261 § 2, 11/25/13; Ord. 1325 § 7, 11/14/16; Ord. 1371 § 5, 2/11/19; Ord. 1372 § 3, 2/25/19; Ord. 1381 § 7, 12/09/19; Ord. 1421 § 7, 12/15/22; Ord. 1422 § 7, 12/12/22; Ord. 1438, 1/27/2025; Ord. 1439, 2/10/2025; Ord. 1449, 9/22/2025; Ord. 1450, 9/22/2025)

A. Section 111, including its subparts, is amended to read as follows:

111.1 General. The City Council is designated to hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions or determinations made by the Fire Code Official relative to the application and interpretation of this Division. All references to the "Board of Appeals" means the City Council.

111.2 Limitations on authority. An application for appeal will be based on a claim that the intent of this code or the rules legally adopted hereunder have been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions of this code do not fully apply, or an equivalent method of protection or safety is proposed. The Board does not have the authority to waive the requirements of this code.

111.3 Applications, fees and findings. Any person appealing the decision of the Fire Code Official must file with the Building Official a written application accompanied by a filing fee in accordance with the fee schedule adopted by City Council resolution at any time not more than 20 calendar days after the decision of the Fire Code Official.

The application must set forth and include any information the Building Official may require.

Upon the filing of a verified application, the Building Official must transmit said application forthwith to the Board of Appeals, and such Board must investigate, examine, review, hear testimony, from and on behalf of the applicant, and render findings and decisions on the matter in writing to the applicant with a duplicate copy to the Building Official within 20 days after the conclusion of its proceedings, the Building Official must make all findings and decisions available to the public without fees.

B. Section 202 is amended by revising the following definitions:

FIRE CHIEF. The City Manager for the City of Bellflower, or designee. Unless otherwise determined by the City Manager, the Fire Chief for the Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County ("Fire District") may enforce this chapter as the "Fire Chief" and "Fire Official" for purposes of California Fire Code ("CFC") Section 202. Any such enforcement authority must be exercised in cooperation with the City Manager or designee(s)-to ensure a uniform enforcement of applicable law within the city's jurisdiction.

FIRE CODE OFFICIAL. "Fire Code Official" means the "Building Official."

SECTION 8. BMC Chapter 15.56 is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

(Ord. 1261 § 2, 11/25/13; Ord. 1325 § 7, 11/14/16; Ord. 1381 § 7, 12/09/19; Ord. 1421 § 7, 12/15/22; Ord. 1422 § 7, 12/12/22; Ord. 1438, 1/27/2025; Ord. 1439, 2/10/2025; Ord. 1449, 9/22/2025; Ord. 1450, 9/22/2025)