Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION — Corte Madera Municipal Code

Section 901.7 of Chapter 9 is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:

Section 901.7 Systems out of Service. Where a required fire protection system is out of service, the fire department and the Fire Code Official shall be notified immediately and, where required by the fire code official, the building shall be either evacuated or an approved fire watch shall be provided for all occupants left unprotected by the shutdown until the fire protection system has been returned to service. This section shall also apply to residential fire sprinkler systems.

Section 902.1 in Chapter 9 is hereby amended to add the following:

EXTERIOR WILDFIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Section 903.2 of Chapter 9 is repealed in its entirety (with the exception of subsections 903.2.5, 903.2.6, 903.2.8, 903.2.11, 903.2.12, 903.2.14, 903.2.15, 903.2.16, 903.2.17, 903.2.18, 903.2.19, 903.2.20, 903.2.21 which shall remain in effect).

Section 903.2 of Chapter 9 is hereby added to read as follows:

Section 903.2 Where Required. Approved automatic sprinkler systems in new and existing buildings shall be provided in the locations described in sections 903.2.1 through 903.2.21.

Section 903.2.1 through 903.2.4 of Chapter 9 are hereby added to read as follows:

Section 903.2.1 Required Installations. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed and maintained in all newly constructed buildings or structures.

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.

Agricultural buildings as defined in Appendix C of the Building Code and not exceeding 2000 square feet, having clear unobstructed side yards free of combustible materials, exceeding 60 feet in all directions and not exceeding 25 feet in height, located within an agricultural zoned district as defined in the Town of Corte Madera Planning Code.

Section 903.2.2 Additions and Alterations. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in all buildings in excess of 3,000 sq. ft., which have ten per cent (10%) or more floor area added within any thirty-six (36) month period.

Exception: R-3 occupancies. See 903.2.3.

Section 903.2.2.1 Substantial Remodel. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in all buildings, which have fifty per cent (50%) or more floor area added, or any "substantial remodel" as defined in this code, within any thirty-six (36) month period.

Section 903.2.3 Group R-3. An automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3 shall be permitted in Group R-3 occupancies and shall be provided throughout all one- and two-family dwellings regardless of square footage in accordance with the California Residential Code. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in all mobile homes, manufactured homes and multi-family manufactured homes with two or more dwelling units in accordance with Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations.

Section 903.2.4 Change of Occupancy or Use. For any change of occupancy or use, when the proposed new occupancy classification is more hazardous based on a fire and life safety evaluation by the Fire Code Official, including but not limited to conversion of buildings to single family residences, accessory dwelling units, bed and breakfast, inns, lodging houses or congregate residences or other similar uses, an automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout.

Section 903.3 of Chapter 9 is hereby amended by adding the following thereto:

The requirements for fire sprinklers in this code section are not meant to disallow the provisions for area increase, height increase, or Fire-Resistive substitution if otherwise allowed by sections 504 and 506 of the 2025 California Building Code. All automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be installed in accordance with the written standards of the Fire Code Official and the following:

In all residential buildings required to be sprinkled any attached garages shall also be sprinkled, and except for single family dwellings, in all residential occupancies the attics shall be sprinkled.

In all existing buildings, where fire sprinklers are required by provisions of this code, they shall be extended into all unprotected areas of the building.

All single-family dwellings in excess of 5,000 square feet shall have automatic fire sprinkler systems designed in accordance with NFPA Standard 13 or 13R.

All public storage facilities shall have installed an approved automatic fire sprinkler system.

Section 903.3.10 of Chapter 9 is hereby amended by replacing item 2 with the following:

Section 903.3.10 Floor control valves. Floor control valves and water flow detection assemblies shall be installed at each floor where any of the following occur:

Buildings where the floor level of the highest story is located more than 30 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.

Buildings that are two or more stories in height.

Buildings that are two or more stories below the highest level of fire department vehicle access.

Exception: Group R-3 and R-3.1 occupancies floor control valves and water flow detection assemblies shall not be required.

Section 903.6.1 of Chapter 9 is hereby added and shall read as follows:

Section 903.6.1 Application. In all existing buildings, when the addition of automatic fire sprinklers are required by the provisions of this code, automatic fire sprinklers shall be extended into all unprotected

areas of the building.

Section 906.11 is hereby added to Chapter 9 and shall read as follows:

Section 906.11 Fire Extinguisher Documentation. The owner and/or operator of every Group R Division 2 occupancy shall annually provide the Fire Code Official written documentation that fire extinguishers are installed and have been serviced as required by Title 19 California Code of Regulations when such extinguishers are installed in residential units in lieu of common areas.

Section 907.2.13.1.2 of Chapter 9 is hereby amended by adding new subsection 3 to read as follows:

Duct smoke detectors shall be capable of being reset by a readily accessible, remote push button or key activated switch as approved by the Fire Code Official.

Section 907.6.6 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 907.6.6 Monitoring. New and upgraded fire alarm systems required by this chapter or by the California Building Code shall be monitored by an approved Central Station in accordance with NFPA 72 and this section.

Exception: Monitoring by central station is not required for:

Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms required by Section 907.2.11.

Group I-3 occupancies shall be monitored in accordance with Section 907.2.6.3.

Automatic sprinkler systems in one- and two-family dwellings.

Section 907.8.5 of Chapter 9 is hereby added and shall read as follows:

Section 907.8.5 Smoke Alarm Documentation. The owner and/or operator of every Group R Division 1, Division 2, Division 3.1, and Division 4 Occupancies shall annually provide the Fire Code Official with written documentation that the smoke alarms installed pursuant to the Building Code have been tested and are operational. If alarms are found to be inoperable or are missing, such alarms shall be repaired or replaced immediately.

Section 918 of Chapter 9 is hereby added and shall read as follows:

SECTION 918 EXTERIOR WILDFIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Section 918.1 of Chapter 9 is hereby added and shall read as follows:

Section 918.1 General. Exterior Wildfire Protection Systems shall comply with this section. The installation of Exterior Wildfire Protection Systems shall not be interpreted as a substitute for compliance with vegetation management and ignition-resistant construction standards. These systems do not guarantee survivability under wind-driven fire conditions and may be ineffective if not maintained or if activation is delayed. Public outreach materials shall clarify that reliance on such systems does not exempt a property from full compliance with Zone Zero and home hardening requirements.

Section 918.2 of Chapter 9 is hereby added and shall read as follows:

Section 918.2 Construction documents. Documentation of the system shall be submitted per 901.2.

Section 918.3 of Chapter 9 is hereby added and shall read as follows:

Section 918.3 Permits. Permits shall be required as set forth in section 901.3.