Fresno County Municipal Code Art. I General Provisions

This Chapter shall be known as and may be cited as the State Responsibility Area and Local Responsibility Area Fire Safe Regulations of the County, and is necessary in order to provide minimum uniform standards for basic emergency access, perimeter wildfire protection measures, signing and building numbering, private water supply reserves for emergency fire use and vegetation modification. The purpose of these regulations is to: create a safer environment for citizens within the wildlands of Fresno County; reduce the destruction and damage to structures and resources; and provide defensible space protecting citizens and firefighters.

(Ord. No. 25-014, § 2, 6-24-2025; Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

Pursuant to the authority conferred by Sections 4290 and 4291 of the Public Resources Code of the State of California, the currently adopted edition of the California Fire Code, and in addition to any other regulations provided by law, the regulations in this Chapter contained are established herewith and shall apply to all future design and construction of both residential and commercial structures, subdivisions, parcel maps, and developments wholly or partly within state responsibility areas in the unincorporated area of the County.

A. Where conflict occurs between these regulations and the California Code of Regulations, State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations (14 CCR, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Articles 1-5), the more restrictive shall apply.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

Application of fire regulations shall be required for the following applications for which approval has not been granted as of the effective date of this Chapter.

A. Applications for Building Permits for new construction not relating to an existing structure;

B. Applications for tentative subdivisions;

C. Applications for divisions of land regulated by Fresno County Ordinance Code Title 17, Division of Land, Section 17.72, Parcel Maps;

D. Applications for Use Permits and Site Plan Reviews for construction or development;

E. Construction of new roads, or extension of an existing road.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)

A. As a condition precedent to acceptance and approval of a Subdivision Map or document, the divider shall make, or agree to make, the improvements required by this Chapter.

B. As a condition precedent to issuing occupancy for improvements on a parcel of land, the owner/permittee or Developer shall make the improvements required by this Chapter. The Director at his discretion may allow the deferment of the required improvements through the execution of an agreement and the posting of adequate securities.

(Ord. No. 23-001, § 1(Exh. 2), 2-28-2023; Ord. No. 19-025, § 1(Exh. B), 12-10-2019; Ord. No. 11-005, § 1, 5-24-2011; Ord. 07-049, Exh. A)