301 General — 2025 California Fire Code

The provisions of this chapter shall govern the occupancy and maintenance of all structures and premises for precautions against fire and the spread of fire and general requirements of fire safety.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.14] Fire Hazard.

No person, including but not limited to the State and its political subdivisions, operating any occupancy subject to California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1 regulations shall permit any fire hazard, as defined in this article, to exist on premises under their control, or fail to take immediate action to abate a fire hazard when requested to do so by the enforcing agency.

Note: “Fire Hazard” as used in California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1 regulations means any condition, arrangement, or act which will increase, or may cause an increase of, the hazard or menace of fire to a greater degree than customarily recognized as normal by persons in the public service of preventing, suppressing or extinguishing fire; or which may obstruct, delay or hinder, or may become the cause of obstruction, delay or hindrance to the prevention, suppression, or extinguishment of fire.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.19(a) through (g)] Housekeeping.

Every building or portion of a building governed by California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1 regulations shall be maintained in a neat orderly manner, free from any condition that would create a fire or life hazard or a condition which would add to or contribute to the rapid spread of fire. Provisions shall be made for the proper storage and disposal of waste materials and rubbish consistent with the following:

(a) All basements, cellars, floors, closets, attics, and other similar places not open to continuous observation shall be kept free from combustible litter and rubbish at all times.

Note: Such storage may be permitted in these areas only when protected by approved automatic extinguishing systems or fire-resis- tive separations.

(b) All combustible waste material and rubbish shall be stored in approved containers or shall be stored in a manner approved by the enforcing agency as being consistent with standard fire prevention practices until such waste material and rubbish is removed from the premises or otherwise disposed of in a proper manner. (1) Containers with a capacity exceeding 5.33 cubic feet (40 gallons) (0.15 m [3] ) shall comply with the provisions of California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 9, Section 304.3.

(2) Wastebaskets and linen containers in Group I-2 and I-3 occupancies shall comply with the provisions of California Code of Regula- tions Title 24, Part 9, Section 808.

(c) Approved self-closing metal containers or listed disposal containers by an approved testing or listing agency shall be provided and maintained in all rooms or locations where oily rags, oily waste, paint rags or similar materials subject to spontaneous ignition are used or are stored temporarily. Such containers shall be emptied daily.

(d) Ashes shall not be placed in, on or near combustible material, but shall be placed in approved metal containers, until removed from the premises or otherwise properly disposed of.

(e) No dry vegetation shall be permitted to exist within 20 feet of any building or occupancies subject to California Code of Regula- tions, Title 19, Division 1 regulations.

(f) Except when permitted by the enforcing agency, boiler rooms, mechanical rooms, transformer and switchgear vaults and electri- cal panel rooms, shall not be used for storage.

(g) Electric motors, filters on heating equipment and grease hoods shall be checked periodically and kept clean and maintained in a safe operating condition.

Permits shall be required as set forth in Section 105.5 for the activities or uses regulated by Sections 306, 307, 308, 315, 320, 321 and 322 .

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS