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Appendix C — FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION

Section C102 — NUMBER OF FIRE HYDRANTS

2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-27 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

C102.1 Minimum number of fire hydrants for a building.

The number of fire hydrants available to a building shall be not less than the minimum specified in Table C102.1.

TABLE C102.1—REQUIRED NUMBER AND SPACING OF FIRE HYDRANTSh

FIRE-FLOW REQUIREMENT
(gpm)		 MINIMUM NUMBER OF
HYDRANTS		 AVERAGE SPACING
BETWEEN HYDRANTSa, b, c, f, g
(feet)		 MAXIMUM DISTANCE FROM ANY
POINT ON STREET OR ROAD
FRONTAGE TO A HYDRANTd, f, g
1,750 or less 1 500 250
1,751–2,250 2 450 225
2,251–2,750 3 450 225
2,751–3,250 3 400 225
3,251–4,000 4 350 210
4,001–5,000 5 300 180
5,001–5,500 6 300 180
5,501–6,000 6 250 150
6,001–7,000 7 250 150
7,001 or more 8 or moree 200 120

TABLE C102.1—REQUIRED NUMBER AND SPACING OF FIRE HYDRANTSh

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers that cannot be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes
and have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis.
c. Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at
spacing not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.
f. A 50-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.1 of the_California Fire Code_.
g. A 25-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3 of the_California Fire Code_ or Section P2904 of the_California Residential Code_.
h. The fire code official is authorized to modify the location, number and distribution of fire hydrants based on site-specific constraints and hazards.		 For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers that cannot be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes
and have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis.
c. Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at
spacing not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.
f. A 50-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.1 of the_California Fire Code_.
g. A 25-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3 of the_California Fire Code_ or Section P2904 of the_California Residential Code_.
h. The fire code official is authorized to modify the location, number and distribution of fire hydrants based on site-specific constraints and hazards.		 For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers that cannot be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes
and have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis.
c. Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at
spacing not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.
f. A 50-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.1 of the_California Fire Code_.
g. A 25-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3 of the_California Fire Code_ or Section P2904 of the_California Residential Code_.
h. The fire code official is authorized to modify the location, number and distribution of fire hydrants based on site-specific constraints and hazards.		 For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. Reduce by 100 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
b. Where streets are provided with median dividers that cannot be crossed by firefighters pulling hose lines, or where arterial streets are provided with four or more traffic lanes
and have a traffic count of more than 30,000 vehicles per day, hydrant spacing shall average 500 feet on each side of the street and be arranged on an alternating basis.
c. Where new water mains are extended along streets where hydrants are not needed for protection of structures or similar fire problems, fire hydrants shall be provided at
spacing not to exceed 1,000 feet to provide for transportation hazards.
d. Reduce by 50 feet for dead-end streets or roads.
e. One hydrant for each 1,000 gallons per minute or fraction thereof.
f. A 50-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.1 of the_California Fire Code_.
g. A 25-percent spacing increase shall be permitted where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section
903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3 of the_California Fire Code_ or Section P2904 of the_California Residential Code_.

TABLE C102.1—REQUIRED NUMBER AND SPACING OF FIRE HYDRANTSh h. The fire code official is authorized to modify the location, number and distribution of fire hydrants based on site-specific constraints and hazards.|

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

APPENDIX C—FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9)
2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9)
  1. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
  4. Chapter 4 — EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS
  5. Chapter 5 — FIRE SERVICE FEATURES
  6. Chapter 6 — BUILDING SERVICES AND SYSTEMS
  7. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  8. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHI…
  9. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  10. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  11. Chapter 11 — CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS
  12. Chapter 12 — ENERGY SYSTEMS
  13. Chapter 20 — AVIATION FACILITIES
  14. Chapter 21 — DRY CLEANING
  15. Chapter 22 — COMBUSTIBLE DUST-PRODUCING OPERATIONS
  16. Chapter 23 — MOTOR FUEL-DISPENSING FACILITIES AND REPAIR GARAGES
  17. Chapter 24 — FLAMMABLE FINISHES
  18. Chapter 25 — FRUIT AND CROP RIPENING
  19. Chapter 26 — FUMIGATION AND INSECTICIDAL FOGGING
  20. Chapter 27 — SEMICONDUCTOR FABRICATION FACILITIES
  21. Chapter 28 — LUMBER YARDS AND AGRO-INDUSTRIAL, SOLID BIOMASS A…
  22. Chapter 29 — MANUFACTURE OF ORGANIC COATINGS
  23. Chapter 30 — INDUSTRIAL OVENS
  24. Chapter 31 — TENTS, TEMPORARY SPECIAL EVENT STRUCTURES AND OTH…
  25. Chapter 32 — HIGH-PILED COMBUSTIBLE STORAGE
  26. Chapter 33 — FIRE SAFETY DURING CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION
  27. Chapter 34 — TIRE REBUILDING AND TIRE STORAGE
  28. Chapter 35 — WELDING AND OTHER HOT WORK
  29. Chapter 36 — MARINAS
  30. Chapter 37 — COMBUSTIBLE FIBERS
  31. Chapter 38 — RESERVED
  32. Chapter 39 — PROCESSING AND EXTRACTION FACILITIES
  33. Chapter 40 — STORAGE OF DISTILLED SPIRITS AND WINES
  34. Chapter 41 — TEMPORARY HEATING AND COOKING OPERATIONS
  35. Chapter 48 — MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION STUDIO S…
  36. Chapter 49 — REQUIREMENTS FOR WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AR…
  37. Chapter 50 — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS—GENERAL PROVISIONS
  38. Chapter 51 — AEROSOLS
  39. Chapter 52 — RESERVED
  40. Chapter 53 — COMPRESSED GASES
  41. Chapter 54 — CORROSIVE MATERIALS
  42. Chapter 55 — CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
  43. Chapter 56 — EXPLOSIVES AND FIREWORKS
  44. Chapter 57 — FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS
  45. Chapter 58 — FLAMMABLE GASES AND FLAMMABLE CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
  46. Chapter 59 — FLAMMABLE SOLIDS
  47. Chapter 60 — HIGHLY TOXIC AND TOXIC MATERIALS
  48. Chapter 61 — LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES
  49. Chapter 62 — ORGANIC PEROXIDES
  50. Chapter 63 — OXIDIZERS, OXIDIZING GASES AND OXIDIZING CRYOGENI…
  51. Chapter 64 — PYROPHORIC MATERIALS
  52. Chapter 65 — PYROXYLIN (CELLULOSE NITRATE) PLASTICS
  53. Chapter 66 — UNSTABLE (REACTIVE) MATERIALS
  54. Chapter 67 — WATER-REACTIVE SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS
  55. Chapter 80 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  56. Appendix Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON US…
  57. Appendix A — BOARD OF APPEALS
  58. Appendix B — FIRE-FLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS
  59. Appendix BB — FIRE-FLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS
  60. ▸ Appendix C — FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
    Overview
    1. Section C101 — GENERAL
    2. Section C102 — NUMBER OF FIRE HYDRANTS
    3. Section C103 — FIRE HYDRANT SPACING
    4. Section C104 — CONSIDERATION OF EXISTING FIRE HYDRANTS
    5. Section C105 — REFERENCED STANDARD
  61. Appendix CC — FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
  62. Appendix D — FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS
  63. Appendix E — HAZARD CATEGORIES
  64. Appendix F — HAZARD RANKING
  65. Appendix G — CRYOGENIC FLUIDS—WEIGHT AND VOLUME EQUIVALENTS
  66. Appendix H — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT PLANS AND HAZARDOU…
  67. Appendix I — FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS—NONCOMPLIANT CONDITIONS
  68. Appendix J — BUILDING INFORMATION SIGN
  69. Appendix K — CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING AMBULATORY…
  70. Appendix L — REQUIREMENTS FOR FIREFIGHTER AIR REPLENISHMENT SY…
  71. Appendix M — HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS—RETROACTIVE AUTOMATIC SPRINKL…
  72. Appendix N — INDOOR TRADE SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS
  73. Appendix O — VALET TRASH AND RECYCLING COLLECTION IN GROUP R-2…
  74. Appendix P — TEMPORARY HAUNTED HOUSES, GHOST WALKS AND SIMILAR…
  75. Appendix Q — COMMUNITY WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE (WUI) FIRE HAZ…

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