Bradbury Municipal Code Ch. 3 Fire Code

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 400U, § 14, adopted December 16, 2025, repealed former Ch. 3, §§ 4.03.010—4.030.030 and enacted a new ch. 3 as set out herein. Former Ch. 3 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 347U, adopted March 21, 2017; Ord. No. 347, adopted June 20, 2017; Ord. No. 381, adopted January 18, 2022; and Ord. No. 397, adopted June 17, 2025.

State Law reference— Fire protection generally, Government Code § 38600 et seq.

(a) Except as hereinafter provided in this Chapter, Title 32, Fire Code of the Los Angeles County Code, as amended and in effect on January 1, 2026, which constitutes an amended version of the California Fire Code, 2025 Edition (Part 9 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations):

Chapters 1 through 80;

Appendix A, Board of Appeals;

Appendix B, Fire-Flow Requirements for Buildings;

Appendix C, Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution;

Appendix D, Fire Apparatus Access Roads;

Appendix PP, Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones;

Appendix RR, Rifle Range of the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code, including errata and supplements, published by the California Building Standards Commission, Title 32 of the 2026 Los Angeles County Code;

is hereby adopted by reference and shall constitute and may be cited as the Fire Code of the City of Bradbury. .

(b) The Cal Fire Local Area Fire Hazard Severity Map updated March 24,2025, is hereby adopted.

(c) In the event of any conflict between provisions of the California Fire Code, 2025 Edition, Title 32 of the Los Angeles County Code, or any amendment thereto, and the provisions contained in the Bradbury Municipal Code, the provision contained in the later listed document shall control.

(d) Title 32 of the 2026 Los Angeles County Code, the California Fire Code, 2025 Edition, and the Cal Fire Local Area Fire Hazard Severity Map, are available online for use and examination by the public.

(Ord. No. 400U, § 14, 12-16-2025; Ord. No. 400, § 14, 1-20-2026)

Section 4902.1 is hereby amended in the following particulars to read:

General. For the purpose of this Chapter, certain, terms are defined as follows:

FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES. Geographical areas designated pursuant to California Public Resources Codes, Sections 4201 through 4204 and classified as Very High, High, or Moderate in State Responsibility Areas or as Local Agency Very High, High, or Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones designated pursuant to California Government Code, Sections 51175 through 51189, and per CalFire map issued on March 24 2025.

a) Application. All-new-plantings of-vegetation-in Local-Responsibility-Areas-(LRA) designated as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and in State Responsibility Areas (SRA) shall comply with Sections 4906.3 through 4906.5.3.

(Ord. No. 400U, § 14, 12-16-2025; Ord. No. 400, § 14, 1-20-2026)

Section 4906.3 is hereby added to read as follows:

Fuel Modification Plans in Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Permits shall be required as set forth in Section 105.6, with the exception of any differences which may be specified in this Chapter or by the Fire Code Official. A fuel modification plan shall be submitted and have preliminary fire protection plan approval prior to any subdivision of land or have final fire protection plan approval as stipulated below.

Final approval is required for applications for any of the following activities:

A. New construction:

1. Any enclosed structure over 120 square feet.

2. Any structure enclosed on three sides or more and greater than or equal to 200 square feet.

B. Remodel, modification, reconstruction, or change of occupancy:

1. Any remodeling, modification, or reconstruction that increases the square footage of the existing structure or footprint by 50 percent or more within any 12-month period.

2. Any structure that changes occupancy classification.

C. Subdivisions:

1. Where the proposed activity would result in 5 or more lots.

Exemptions:

1. Structures that do not require a building permit; or

2. Structures constructed of noncombustible materials, open on all sides, and not used for storage or habitation.

Every fuel modification plan shall be reviewed by the LA County Fire Department for defensible space, fire safety, compliance with Sections 325.2.1, 325.10, and 503.2.1 of this Code, the Fire Department's fuel modification guidelines, and California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, subchapter 2.

Before such final plan has been approved by the LA County Fire Department, a signed and notarized copy of the provided covenant and agreement (and/or previously reviewed and approved association CC&R's that include the necessary fuel modification information) shall be recorded at the County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's Office and a copy given to the fuel modification unit.

An on-site inspection must be conducted by the personnel of the LA County Fire Department and a final approval of the fuel modification plan issued by the LA County Fire Department prior to a certificate of occupancy being granted by the building code official. The fuel modification inspection ensures compliance with applicable requirements of this Code; the Building Code, Section 701 A.5 (Vegetation management compliance); and the Residential Code, Section R337.1.5 (Vegetation management compliance).

(Ord. No. 400U, § 14, 12-16-2025; Ord. No. 400, § 14, 1-20-2026)

(a) Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of the Fire Code shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and each such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the provisions of the Fire Code is committed, continued or permitted, and upon conviction of any such violation such person shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand ($1,000.00) dollars or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not more than six (6) months, or both, fine and imprisonment.

(b) Every violation determined to be an infraction hereunder is punishable in such manner and to such extent as is provided by Section 1.08.010 of this Code.

(c) For the purposes of this section, a forfeiture of bail shall be equivalent to a conviction.

(Ord. No. 400U, § 14, 12-16-2025; Ord. No. 400, § 14, 1-20-2026)

(a) Any person who personally or through another willfully, negligently, or in violation of law sets a fire, allows a fire to be set, allows a fire kindled or attended by such person to escape from his or her control, allows any hazardous material to be handled, stored or transported in a manner not in accordance with the Fire Code or with nationally recognized standards, allows any hazardous material to escape from his or her control, neglects to properly comply with any written notice of the Fire Chief, or willfully or negligently allows the continuation of a violation of the Fire Code and the amendments thereto shall be liable for the expense of fighting the fire, or for all costs associated with the control and mitigation of a hazardous materials incident, or for the expenses incurred while obtaining compliance with the written order of the Fire Chief, or for the expenses incurred in obtaining compliance with the continuing violation of the Fire Code. Such expenses shall be a charge against that person and shall constitute a debt of such person and is collectible by the public agency incurring such expenses in the same manner as in the case of an obligation under a contract, expressed or implied.

(b) All inconsistencies between the Fire Code as adopted by this ordinance and Part 9 of the California Code of Regulations are changes, modifications, amendments, additions or deletions thereto authorized by California Health and Safety Code Sections 17958 and 17958.7.

(c) The City Council hereby finds that the changes and modifications to the California Fire Code that have been enacted by this ordinance are reasonably necessary because of the City's local climate, characterized by hot, dry summers, often resulting in drought conditions, followed by strong Santa Ana winds, often resulting in hazardous fire conditions, and heavy winter rains, often resulting in expansive soil conditions; the City's geological characteristics in that the area is characterized by geological instability; location in Southern California; and the relatively flat topography of the City.

(Ord. No. 400U, § 14, 12-16-2025; Ord. No. 400, § 14, 1-20-2026)