§ 3114-5. Signing of Water Sources.

3114-1. Water Standards - Intent.

Emergency water for wildfire protection shall be available, accessible, and maintained in quantities and locations specified in statute and these regulations, in order to attack a wildfire and defend property from a wildfire. (Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/1991; Ord. 2540, Section 1, 11/17/2015)

3114-2. Application.

The provisions of this chapter shall apply in the tentative and parcel map process when new parcels are approved by the County. When a water supply for structure defense is required to be installed, such protection shall be installed and made serviceable before and during the time of construction except when alternative methods of protection are provided and approved by the local authority having jurisdiction. A water source on an adjacent parcel for which the subject property has access by means of a recorded easement shall be accepted as meeting the intent of this section. (Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/1991; Ord. 2540, Section 1, 11/17/2015)

3114-3. General Standards.

(a) Water systems that comply with the below standard or standards meets or exceed intent of these regulations:

Water systems equaling or exceeding the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1142, “Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting,” 2012 Edition, hereby incorporated by reference, or California Fire Code, California Code of Regulations, title 24, part 9, shall be accepted as meeting the requirements of this section. (Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/1991; Ord. 2540, Section 1, 11/17/2015)

(b) Notwithstanding the above water system standards, a water system serving an individual residential dwelling which meets the 2,500 gallon emergency water supply requirements of the County’s Alternative Owner Builder Ordinance, Humboldt County Code Section 331.5-13(h), and which conforms to the minimum pipe size and valving requirements set forth in these regulations, shall be accepted as meeting the requirements of this section. (Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/1991)

(c) Such emergency water may be provided in a fire agency mobile water tender, or naturally occurring or manmade containment structure, as long as the specified quantity is immediately available. (Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/ 1991; Ord. 2540, Section 1, 11/17/2015)

(d) Nothing in these regulations prohibits the combined storage of emergency wildfire and structural firefighting water supplies unless so prohibited by local ordinance or specified by the local fire agency. (Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/ 1991; Ord. 2540, Section 1, 11/17/2015)

The Humboldt County Code is current through Ordinance 2784, passed March 10, 2026.

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(e) Where freeze protection is required by the County or local fire agency, such measures shall be provided. (Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/1991; Ord. 2540, Section 1, 11/17/2015)

3114-4. Hydrant/Fire Valve.

(a) The hydrant or fire valve shall be eighteen (18) inches above grade, eight (8) feet from flammable vegetation, no closer than four (4) feet nor farther than twelve (12) feet from a roadway, and in a location where fire apparatus using it will not block the roadway. (Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/1991; amended by Ord. 2540, Section 1, 11/ 17/2015)

The hydrant serving any building shall: (Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/1991)

(1) be not less than fifty (50) feet nor more than 1/2 mile from the building it is to serve, except that a hydrant serving any building on a lot less than ten (10) acres in acre shall be located within 500 feet of the building; provided that the local fire agency may allow a hydrant to be located up to 1000 feet from the building when site conditions warrant. (Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/1991; Ord. 2540, Section 1, 11/17/2015)

(2) be located at a turnout or turnaround, along the driveway to that building or along the road that intersects with that driveway. (Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/1991)

(b) The hydrant head shall be brass or other corrosion resistant material with 2-1/2 inch National Hose male thread with a cap for pressure and gravity flow systems, and 4-1/2 inch National Hose male thread for draft systems. Such hydrants shall be wet or dry barrel as required by the delivery system. Crash protection meeting the requirements of the Uniform Mechanical Code shall be installed as required by the County. (Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/ 1991; Ord. 2540, Section 1, 11/17/2015)

(c) All pipes supplying water to hydrants must be at least 3 inches in diameter; however, a pipe having a diameter of less than 3 inches may be used provided it can demonstrate the capability of supplying a minimum 200 gallon per minute (gpm) flow from the hydrant connection. (Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/1991)

3114-5. Signing of Water Sources.

Each hydrant/fire valve or access to water shall be identified as follows:

(a) if located along a driveway, except where the residence is served with an individual water supply, a reflectorized blue marker with a minimum dimension of three (3) inches shall be located on the driveway address sign and mounted on a fire retardant post; or

(b) if located along a driveway where a residence is served with an individual water supply, a wooden sign with a minimum three (3) inch letter height, 3/8 inch stroke, contrasting with the background color of the sign, with the wording “FIRE WATER” mounted on a wooden post or compliance with section (a) above shall be acceptable with

The Humboldt County Code is current through Ordinance 2784, passed March 10, 2026.

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an exception issued pursuant to Sections 3111-7 through 3111-10 of this ordinance, or (Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/1991; Ord. 2540, Section 1, 11/17/2015)

• (c) if located along a street or road,

(1) a reflectorized blue marker, with a minimum dimension of three (3) inches, shall be mounted on a fire retardant post. The sign post shall be within three (3) feet of said hydrant/fire valve, with the sign no less than three (3) feet nor greater than five (5) feet above the ground, in a horizontal position and visible from the roadway, or (Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/1991)

(2) as specified in the State Fire Marshal’s Guidelines for Hydrant Markings Along State Highways and Freeways, May 1988. (Ord. 1952, § 1), 12/17/1991; Ord. 2540, Section 1, 11/17/2015)

(Ord. 1952, § 1, 12/17/1991)