Chapter 6 — FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS

The map shall include all existing emergency water supplies.

Section 602.3.2 is amended by adding the following:

Identify the location of fire protection systems or equipment.

Identify any power sources, meters, and shut downs.

Section 603.3, is amended to read as follows:

Vegetation Management Plan: A Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) shall be provided for all substantial remodels and new construction, or when required by the code official. The Vegetation Management Plan shall include development and maintenance requirements for the Vegetation Management zone adjacent to structures and roadways and provide significant fire hazard reduction benefits for public and firefighting safety. Vegetation Management shall be designed in accordance with this code and Fire Protection Standard 220.

Section 603.3.1, is amended to read as follows:

Delineation of the Zone 0 (0'-5'), Zone 1 (5'-30'), Zone 2 (30'-100') fuel management zones from all structures and Zone 3 (10' on either side of the road or driveway).

Section 604.6 is hereby added with language to read as follows:

Section 604.6 Fire Hazard Reduction. Any person who owns, leases, controls or maintains any building or structure, vacant lands, open space, and/or lands within specific Wildland Urban Interface areas of the jurisdiction of the [Local AHJ], shall comply with the following:

Cut and remove all hazardous vegetation and ground coverings within 100 feet of structures, up to 200 feet when topographic or combustible vegetative types necessitate removal as determined by the Fire Code Official.

Remove accumulated dead vegetation on the property.

Cut and remove tree limbs that overhang wood decks and roofs.

Remove that portion of any tree which extends within 10 feet of any chimney or stovepipe, roof surfaces and roof gutters.

Clean any leaves and needles from the roof and gutters.

Cut and remove growth less than 3-inches in diameter, from the ground up to a height of 10 feet, provided that no crown shall be raised to a point so as to remove branches from more than the lower one-third of the tree's total height.

Ladder fuels shall be removed within 30 feet of the structure.

When required by the Fire Code Official, cut and remove trees that are 6" of diameter or less at breast height, or four feet, six inches above ground, to achieve canopy separation within 30 feet of the structure.

Remove all combustible mulches within 5 feet of the structure including attachments such as decks, pergolas, and trellises.

Vegetation clearance requirements for new construction and substantial remodels in Wildland-Urban Interface Areas shall be in accordance with the 2021 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, as amended by the [Local AHJ].

EXCEPTION 1: When approved by the Fire Code Official, single specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery or similar plants, or plants used as ground covers, provided that they do not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from the native growth to any structure.

EXCEPTION 2: When approved by the Fire Code Official, grass and other vegetation located more than 30 feet (9144 mm) from buildings or structures less than 18 inches (457 mm) in height above the ground need not be removed where necessary to stabilize soil and prevent erosion.

Section 604.7, is added to read as follows:

Section 604.7 Fire Hazard Reduction from Roadways. The Fire Code Official is authorized to cause areas within 10 feet (3048 cm) on each side of portions of highways, fire apparatus access roads (improved or unimproved), and driveways (improved or unimproved), which are improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic to be cleared of flammable vegetation and other combustible growth.

EXCEPTION 1: When approved by the Fire Code Official, single specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery or similar plants, or plants used as ground covers, provided that they do not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from the native growth to any structure.

Section 613 of Chapter 6 is hereby added with the following language:

Section 613 Fire Protection Systems.

Section 613.1 of Chapter 6 is hereby added with the following language:

Section 613.1 General. The installation of fire protection systems shall be in accordance with nationally recognized standards and Local Fire Protection Standards.

Section 613.2 of Chapter 6 is hereby added with the following language:

Section 613.2 Automatic Fire Sprinkler System.

An approved automatic fire sprinkler system shall be installed in all occupancies, in new buildings, and substantial remodels. The installation of the automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be in accordance with nationally recognized standards and Fire Protection Standards.

EXCEPTIONS:

Detached pool houses, workshops, Group U private garages, barns and similar structures, built in conjunction with existing non-sprinklered single family residences and provided the new structure is less than 1,000 square feet and is not intended for use as a dwelling unit.

Detached non-combustible, limited combustible, or fire retardant treated wood canopies.

Group B or M occupancies less than 1000 square feet.

Detached restroom facilities associated with golf courses, ball fields, parks and similar uses as approved by the Fire Code Official.

Section 613.3 of Chapter 6 is hereby added with the following language:

Section 613.3 Exterior Wildfire Protection System.

An approved system of devices and equipment, automatically or manually activated, that discharges water or another approved fire-extinguishing agent onto the structure and surrounding defensible space zones (Zone Zero and Zone One). These systems are supplemental and do not replace required ignition-resistant construction or vegetation management under PRC 4291, AB 3074.

"Zone Zero" and "Zone One" are defined consistent with PRC 4291 and Title 14 CCR §1299.03, as adopted by CAL FIRE.

Section 613.3.1 of Chapter 6 is hereby added with the following language:

Section 613.3.1 General. Exterior Wildfire Protection Systems shall comply with this section.

Section 613.3.1 of Chapter 6 is hereby added with the following language:

Section 613.3.2 Construction documents. Documentation of the system shall be submitted per 901.2 of the California Fire Code.

Section 613.3.2 of Chapter 6 is hereby added with the following language:

Section 613.3.3 Permits. Permits shall be required as set forth in section 901.3 of the California Fire Code.