Imperial Beach Municipal Code Ch. 15.20 Fire Code

Except as provided in and Chapter 15.20.020, the 2025 California Fire Code (California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 9) is adopted and incorporated by reference as the Fire Code of the City of Imperial Beach.

(Ord. 2010-1114 § 2; Ord. 2013-1143 § 11; Ord. 2016-1157 § 9; Ord. 2019-1190 § 9; Ord. 2022-1219 § 9; Ord. 2025-1256, 10/1/2025)

As provided in this chapter, amendments are adopted and incorporated as part of the fire code of the City of Imperial Beach.

A. 2025 California Fire Code Appendix B, Fire Flow Requirements for Buildings, is adopted.

B. 2025 California Fire Code Appendix BB, Fire Flow Requirements for Buildings, is adopted.

C. 2025 California Fire Code Appendix C, Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution, is adopted.

D. 2025 California Fire Code Appendix CC, Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution, is adopted.

E. 2025 California Fire Code Appendix D, Fire Apparatus Access Roads, is adopted.

F. 2025 California Fire Code Appendix F, Hazard Ranking, is adopted.

G. 2025 California Fire Code Appendix P, Temporary Haunted Houses, Ghost Walks and similar amusement uses, is adopted.

H. Chapter 1 Administration is hereby added (A), revised (R) or deleted (D) to the Building/Fire Code portion of the California Building Standards Code to read as follows:

(R) Section 101.5 City of Imperial Beach Validity. The City of Imperial Beach hereby declares that should any section, paragraph, sentence, or word of this ordinance or of the code hereby adopted be declared for any reason to be invalid, it is the intent of the City of Imperial Beach that it would have passed all other portions of this ordinance independently of the elimination here from of any such portion as may be declared invalid.

I. Chapter 1, Section 102.14 Repeal of Conflicting Ordinances, Resolutions or Motions is hereby added (A), revised (R) or deleted (D) to the Building/Fire Code portion of the California Building Standards Code to read as follows:

(A) Section 102.14 REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS OR MOTIONS. All former ordinances, resolutions or motions, or parts thereof conflicting or inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance or of the Code or standards hereby adopted are hereby repealed.

(R) Chapter 1 Administration - Section 113.4 Violation Penalties. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this code or standards hereby adopted or fail to comply therewith, or who shall violate or fail to comply with any order made thereunder, or who shall build in violation of any detailed statement or specification or plans submitted and approved there under, or any certificate or permit issued there under, and from which no appeal has been taken, or who shall fail to comply with such an order as affirmed or modified by the attorney for the City of Imperial Beach or by a court of competent jurisdiction within the time fixed herein, shall severally for each and every violation and noncompliance respectively, be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000.00 or by imprisonment in County Jail not exceeding six (6) months, or both. The imposition of one penalty of any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue; and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within a reasonable time; and when not otherwise specified, each day that prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense.

The application of the above penalty shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions.

J. Chapter 1 Administration, Section 114.4 Failure to Comply is hereby added (A), revised (R) or deleted (D) to the Building/Fire Code portion of the California Building Standards Code to read as follows:

(R) Section 114.4 Failure to Comply. Any person, who shall continue any work having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that the person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be liable to a fine of not less than the amounts as established for administrative citations pursuant to Chapter 1.22 of the City of Imperial Beach Municipal Code.

K. Chapter 2 Definitions, Section 202 is hereby added (A), revised (R) or deleted (D) to the Building/Fire Code portion of the California Building Standards Code to read as follows:

(A) MID-RISE BUILDING. A building four stories or more in height, 75 feet or more in height and not defined as a high-rise building by the California Building Code. Measurements shall be made from the midpoint of the highest portion of the roof or floor above the topmost space that may be occupied to the lowest fire department connection.

L. Chapter 3 General Precautions Against Fire, Section 329 is hereby added (A), revised (R) or deleted (D) to the Building/Fire Code portion of the California Building Standards Code to read as follows:

Section 329 is added to the California Fire Code to read:

SECTION 329 MID-RISE BUILDINGS 329.1 General. All newly constructed mid-rise buildings or any mid-rise building which undergoes a complete renovation that requires the complete vacancy of the building to complete the renovation shall comply with this section. Exceptions:

M. Chapter 5 Fire Service Features - Section 503 is hereby added (A), revised (R) or deleted (D) to the Building/Fire Code portion of the California Building Standards Code to read as follows:

(A) Section 503.3.1 Fire Lane Designation. Where the Fire Code Official determines that it is necessary to ensure adequate Fire Department vehicle access, the Fire Code Official may designate proposed, newly classified or existing roadways as fire access roadways as provided by Vehicle Code Section 22500.1.

N. Chapter 5 Fire Service Features - Section 505 is hereby added (A), revised (R) or deleted (D) to the Building/Fire Code portion of the California Building Standards Code to read as follows:

(R) Section 505.1 Address Numbers. Approved numbers and/or addresses shall be placed on all new and existing buildings and at appropriate additional locations as to be plainly visible and legible from the street or roadway fronting the property from either direction of approach. Said numbers shall contrast with their background and shall meet the following minimum standards as to size: 4" high with a 1/2" stroke for residential buildings and individual dwelling units of multi- residential buildings, 8" high with a 1/2" stroke for commercial buildings, industrial buildings and multi-residential buildings having eight individual dwelling units or more. Additional numbers shall be required where deemed necessary by the Fire Code Official, such as rear access doors, building corners, and entrances to commercial centers.

O. Chapter 9 Fire Protection Systems - Section 903 is hereby added (A), revised (R) or deleted (D) to the Building/Fire Code portion of the California Building Standards Code to read as follows:

(A) Section 903.2.8.1.1 Residential Fire Sprinkler Water Flow Alarm. All new or newly classified residential structures with an automatic fire sprinkler system shall be provided with an approved water flow alarm consisting of a water flow detector (flow switch) and water flow notification appliance (electric bell). The water flow notification appliance shall be installed along the address side of the structure in a location approved by the Fire Code Official. The water flow alarm does not require electronic supervision or monitoring unless specifically required by code.

(A) Section 903.2.8.1.2 Residential Fire Sprinkler Protection Required in Attic Spaces. When a gas fueled appliance is provided within a residential attic space the gas fueled appliance shall be protected by the buildings automatic fire sprinkler system. When an automatic fire sprinkler head is installed to protect a gas appliance it shall be provided with an approved fire sprinkler head guard.

(Ord. 2010-1114 § 3; Ord. 2013-1143 § 11; Ord. 2016-1157 § 9; Ord. 2019-1190 § 9; Ord. 2022-1219 § 9; Ord. 2025-1256, 10/1/2025)