Chapter 5 — FIRE SERVICE FEATURES
Section 503 — FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS
2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) · 2025 edition · ingested 2026-07-07 · California
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503.1 Where required. ¶
503.1 Where required. Fire apparatus access roads shall be provided and maintained in accordance with Sections 503.1.1 through 503.1.3. 503.1.1 Buildings and facilities. Approved fire apparatus access roads shall be provided for every facility, building or portion of a building hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction. The fire apparatus access road shall comply with the requirements of this section and shall extend to within 150 feet (45 720 mm) of all portions of the facility and all portions of the exterior walls of the first story of the building as measured by an…
503.2 Specifications. ¶
503.2 Specifications. Fire apparatus access roads shall be installed and arranged in accordance with Sections 503.2.1 through 503.2.8. [California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.05(a)] Fire Department Access and Egress. (Roads) (a) Roads. Required access roads from every building to a public street shall be all-weather hard-surfaced (suitable for use by fire apparatus) right-of-way not less than 20 feet in width. Such right-of-way shall be unobstructed and maintained only as access to the public street. Exception: The enforcing agency may waive or modify this requirement if in…
503.3 Marking. ¶
503.3 Marking. Where required by the fire code official, approved signs or other approved notices or markings that include the words “NO PARKING—FIRE LANE” shall be provided for fire apparatus access roads to identify such roads or prohibit the obstruction thereof. The means by which fire lanes are designated shall be maintained in a clean and legible condition at all times and be replaced or repaired when necessary to provide adequate visibility.
503.4 Obstruction of fire apparatus access roads. ¶
503.4 Obstruction of fire apparatus access roads. Fire apparatus access roads shall not be obstructed in any manner, including the parking of vehicles. The minimum widths and clearances established in Sections 503.2.1 and 503.2.2 shall be maintained at all times. 503.4.1 Traffic calming devices. Traffic calming devices shall be prohibited unless approved by the fire code official.
503.5 Required gates or barricades. ¶
503.5 Required gates or barricades. The fire code official is authorized to require the installation and maintenance of gates or other approved barricades across fire apparatus access roads, trails or other accessways, not including public streets, alleys or highways. Electric gate operators, where provided, shall be listed in accordance with UL 325. Gates intended for automatic operation shall be designed, constructed and installed to comply with the requirements of ASTM F2200. 503.5.1 Secured gates and barricades. Where required, gates and barricades shall be secured in an approved manner.…
503.6 Security gates. ¶
503.6 Security gates. The installation of security gates across a fire apparatus access road shall be approved by the fire code official. Where security gates are installed, they shall have an approved means of emergency operation. The security gates and the emergency operation shall be maintained operational at all times. Electric gate operators, where provided, shall be listed in accordance with UL 325. Gates intended for automatic operation shall be designed, constructed and installed to comply with the requirements of ASTM F2200.