Beverly Hills Municipal Code Ch. 12 Tents, Awnings, Canopies, and Umbrellas

SECTION R1201

TENTS, AWNINGS, CANOPIES, AND UMBRELLAS – REQUIREMENTS

R1201.1 Permits required. No tent, awning, or canopy in excess of forty (40) square feet shall be erected or maintained on private property within the city without first obtaining a permit from the city building official. The permit fee shall be as established by resolution of the city council. Unless otherwise authorized by the city building official, no tent, awning, or canopy in excess of forty (40) square feet shall be erected or maintained on private property within the city in excess of ten (10) days.

R1201.2 Temporary use. Tents, awnings, or canopies of cloth or pliable material shall be erected only as temporary shelters from the rain or sun and shall not be used as permanent structures or additions to the main building. Except as authorized by the city council or as otherwise specified in the municipal code, such structures shall not be used for the purpose of sheltering goods, wares, or merchandise or for the purpose of engaging in business in any manner thereunder. Such structures shall be permitted only if so constructed and situated, so that in the opinion of the city building official, the structure will not cause a fire hazard or in any other way be dangerous to life, limb, or property.

Exception: The provisions of this section shall not prohibit the covering of materials stored in a yard with fire-retardant tarpaulins.

R1201.3 Restrictions and requirements. Any tent, awning, or other pliable material for which a permit is required under this section shall comply with the following:

1. All city code provisions and regulations shall be complied with;

2. An electrical permit shall be obtained by a duly licensed electrical contractor for any wiring or lighting to be installed;

3. All plastics used shall display approval by the office of the fire marshal of the state;

4. All cloth used shall be non-combustible or flame-retardant. Flame-retardant materials shall display the name of the treating agency, the date of the flame-retardant application, the type of flame-retardant used, and the flame-retardant certificate;

5. A testing flap shall be provided for the use of the fire department inspector;

6. A minimum of two (2) means of egress shall be provided for tents or canopies having an area of 1,000 square feet or more. Such means of egress shall be not less than five (5') feet in width and located not less than one-fifth ( 1 / 5 ) of the perimeter of the structure apart. Each means of egress shall be provided with exit signs as required by this code.

Chapter 13 is added to the California Residential Code to read as follows: