Imperial County Municipal Code Ch. 8.20 Uniform Fire Code Adopted

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 1592, adopted April 23, 2024, amended Ch. 8.20 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Ch. 8.20 pertained to the same subject matter, and derived from Ord. 1394, 2005; Ord. 1419, 2006; and Ord. No. 1464, adopted August 17, 2010.

A. The Board of Supervisors adopts the California Fire Code, 2019 edition, together with the County of Imperial amendments, as the Fire Code of the County of Imperial, in the State of California regulating and governing the safeguarding of life and property from fire and explosion hazards arising from the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices, and from conditions hazardous to life or property in the occupancy of buildings and premises as herein provided; providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said Fire Code are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this ordinance, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes prescribed in paragraph B. of this Section 8.20.010.

B. The Board of Supervisors hereby revises the following sections of the California Fire Code, 2019 edition, Appendix Chapter 3:

1. Section 101.1 shall read as follows: "101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Fire Code of the County of Imperial, hereinafter referred to as "this code.""

2. Section 109.3 shall read as follows: "109.3 Violation Penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the fire code official or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this code, shall be guilty of an infraction or misdemeanor as hereinafter specified. Such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any provision of this code is committed, continued or permitted.

3. "Any person so convicted shall be: (1) guilty of an infraction offense and punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) for a first violation; (2) guilty of an infraction offense and punished by a fine not exceeding seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) for a second violation on the same site and perpetrated by the same person. The third and any additional violations on the same site and perpetrated by the same person shall constitute a misdemeanor offense and shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or six months in jail, or both. Notwithstanding the above, a first or second offense may be charged and prosecuted as a misdemeanor. Payment of any penalty herein shall not relieve a person from the responsibility for correcting the violation."

4. Section 111.4 shall read as follows: "111.4 Failure to comply. Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be liable to a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) or more than one thousand dollars ($1,000)."

C. The Board of Supervisors hereby establishes the geographic limits referred to in certain sections of the 2019 California Fire Code as follows:

1. Section 3204.3.1.1 shall read as follows: "3204.3.1.1 Location. Stationary containers shall be located in accordance with Section 3203.6. Containers of cryogenic fluids shall not be located within the diked areas containing other hazardous materials.

2. "Storage of flammable cryogenic fluids in stationary containers outside of buildings is prohibited within the geographic limits of the unincorporated portions of the County of Imperial."

3. Section 3404.2.9.5.1 shall read as follows: "3404.2.9.5.1 Locations where above-ground tanks are prohibited. Storage of Class I and II liquids in above-ground tanks outside of buildings is prohibited within the geographic limits of the unincorporated portions of the county of Imperial."

4. Section 3406.2.4.4 shall read as follows: "3406.2.4.4 Locations where above-ground tanks are prohibited. The storage of Class I and II liquids in above-ground tanks is prohibited within the geographic limits of the unincorporated portions of the county of Imperial."

5. Section 3804.2 shall read as follows: "3804.2 Maximum capacity within established limits. Within the geographic limits of the unincorporated portions of the county of Imperial, the aggregate capacity of any one installation shall not exceed a water capacity of 2,000 gallons (7,570 L).

"Exception: In particular installations, this capacity limit shall be determined by the fire code official, after consideration of special features such as topographical conditions, nature of occupancy, and proximity to buildings, capacity of proposed containers, degree of fire protection to be provided and capabilities of the local fire department."

D. The board of supervisors hereby repeals any portion of this chapter 8.20 in conflict herewith.

(Ord. No. 1592, §§ 1, 2, 4-23-24)

A. Whenever the word "administrator" is used in this Code, it shall be held to mean the County Executive Officer.

B. Whenever the word "building official" is used in this Code, it shall be held to mean the director of the county's planning and development services department, or the director's duly authorized representative.

C. Whenever the term "corporation counsel" is used in this Code, it shall be held to mean the county's district attorney or county counsel, depending on the nature of the reference.

D. Whenever the word "jurisdiction" or phrase "jurisdictional area" is used in this Code, it shall be held to mean all the unincorporated areas of Imperial County, except fire protection districts or special districts with fire protection powers, wherein different regulations are adopted.

E. Whenever the term "zone" is used in this Code, it shall refer to a specific land use zone as described in Title 9 of the Imperial County Codified Ordinances, as referenced hereinafter.

(Ord. No. 1592, §§ 1, 2, 4-23-24)

A. The limits referred to in Article 79, Section 7902.2.2 of the California Fire Code, in which Class 1 flammable liquids in outside aboveground tanks is prohibited, are established as zone R1, R1T, R2, R3, R4T, RA, CO and C1.

B. The limits referred to in Article 79, Section 7904.2.5.4.2 of the California Fire Code regarding new bulk plants for storage of flammable or combustible liquids are established to include all land use zones described in Title 9 of the Imperial County Codified Ordinances, except zone M2.

(Ord. No. 1592, §§ 1, 2, 4-23-24)

The limits referred to in Article 82, Section 8204 of the California Fire Code in which bulk storage of liquefied petroleum is restricted, are established to include all specific land use zones as described in Title 9 of the Imperial County Codified Ordinances, except zone M2.

(Ord. No. 1592, §§ 1, 2, 4-23-24)

The limits referred to in Article 77, Section 7701 of the California Fire Code in which bulk storage of explosives and blasting agents is prohibited are established as all land use zones described in Title 9 of the Imperial County Codified Ordinances, except zones M2 and S by conditional use permit.

(Ord. No. 1592, §§ 1, 2, 4-23-24)

A. Article 1, Section 103 of the California Fire Code is amended such that all references to the fire prevention bureau and its members shall be understood to refer to the county fire department, its chief and his or her authorized representatives.

B. Permits may be issued by the fire chief in accordance with Section 105 of the California Fire Code.

C. Article 9, Section 903.2 of the California Fire Code is amended by adding:

"Plans for water supplies shall be submitted to the Fire Prevention Bureau for approval prior to the start of construction. All plans shall include a certification of the net gallon capacity for the cistern from the manufacturer."

D. Article 9, Section 901.4.3 of the California Fire Code is amended by adding:

"Identification: Draft hydrants shall be coated with a protective primer and paint, white in color with a four-inch (4") blue reflective tape strip installed six inches (6") down from the outlet of the draft hydrant. Drafting hydrants shall be clearly identified in an approved manner to prevent obstruction by parking and other obstructions."

E. Article 9, Section 903.2 of the California Fire Code is amended by adding:

"The physical location of the rural fire protection water supply shall be a minimum of fifty feet (50') and a maximum of one hundred fifty feet (150') from the building being protected. The head pressure in the water supply shall be able to fill the water line to the dry draft hydrant."

F. Article 9, Section 903.3 of the California Fire Code is amended by adding:

"At a minimum, the Imperial County Fire Department requires the installation of a four thousand (4,000) gallon water storage cistem for all rural single family residential applications under three thousand six hundred (3,600) square feet and the installation of a ten thousand (10,000) gallon water storage cistern for commercial applications that is not served by a pressurized water distribution system that meets the required fire flow and fire flow duration in Appendix III-A of the California Fire Code. These are minimum requirements and may be increased depending on the building size, location and level of hazard when required by the fire chief. The current adopted fire code shall be used as a guideline for fire flow and fire flow duration. The fire protection water supply must be independent of domestic water or any other water use.

"Irrigation canals are not a reliable source of water for fire protection and shall not be utilized as such. Water from swimming pools is not recommended unless the swimming pool is adapted with an approved design for a draft hydrant that meets requirements of Section 903.4 of the California Fire Code, this Code and approved by the fire chief."

G. Article 9, Section 903.4 of the California Fire Code is amended to add the following draft hydrant requirements:

H. Article 9, Section 903.4.2 of the California Fire Code, entitled "Required Installations," is amended by adding:

"The draft hydrant shall be a minimum of fifty feet (50') and a maximum of one hundred fifty feet (150') from the building being protected. It will be accessible to the fire department and at a maximum of ten feet (10') from an all weather surface roadway or driveway."

I. Article 9, Section 902.2.2.4 of the California Fire Code, entitled "Dead Ends" and Appendix III-D, shall be amended as follows:

"All dead-end fire access roads in excess of one hundred fifty feet (150') in length shall be provided with approved provisions for the turning around of emergency apparatus. A cul-de-sac shall be provided in the residential areas where the access roadway serves more than two (2) structures. Minimum unobstructed paved radius width for a cul-de-sac shall be sixty feet (60') in residential areas. The fire chief shall establish a policy identifying acceptable turnarounds for various project types. EXCEPTION: The fire chief may allow a dead-end driveway of up to two hundred feet (200') in length without a turnaround if all structures for which the driveway provides access are protected by automatic fire sprinkler systems.

J. •

" 1. All pipe and fittings shall be a minimum of six-inch (6") schedule forty (40) PVC.

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"2. All six inch (6") diameter in-tank strainers shall be located inside the tank at the lowest possible point.

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"3. A 6 inch (6") National Standard thread male metal connector with cap and strainer shall be connected at the output of the drafting hydrant.

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"4. Two (2) six inch (6") forty-five degree (45°) bends to bring pipe above grade level.

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"5. One (1) six inch (6") valve if the system has any head pressure.

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"6. All pipe and fittings exposed to sunlight shall be primed and painted white in color.

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"7. Outlet shall be no more than thirty-six inches (36") and no less than eighteen inches (18") above ground surface."

(Ord. No. 1592, §§ 1, 2, 4-23-24)

A. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Code, this chapter or Chapter 8.24 of this code, or fails 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 of specifications or plans submitted and approved thereunder, or who shall fail to comply with an order as affirmed or modified by a court of competent jurisdiction within the time fixed herein shall severally for each and every such violation and noncompliance respectively, be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) or by confinement in the county jail for not more than one hundred twenty (120) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each separate day, or any portion thereof, during which any violation of this Code occurs or continues, constitutes a separate offense punishable as provided in this chapter.

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

(Ord. No. 1592, §§ 1, 2, 4-23-24)

The following service fees are established:

(Ord. No. 1592, §§ 1, 2, 4-23-24)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, whether as principals, servants, agents, tenants or owners, to store or maintain in stack or stacks or in pile or piles any hay, straw, cotton, brush, refuse matter or other known inflammable materials on land in the unincorporated area of the county of Imperial within one hundred (100) feet of any dwelling, house or building of any kind situated upon adjoining land not under the control of such persons, firms or corporations so storing same without the written consent of the persons, firms or corporations owning or having legal control of the adjoining property.

(Ord. No. 1592, §§ 1, 2, 4-23-24)