Los Angeles County Municipal Code § 105.5 Required operational permits

The fire code official is authorized to issue operational permits for any activities within the scope of this code, including but not limited to those set forth in Sections 105.5.2 through 105.5.55.

An operational permit is required for:

The placement of retail fixtures and displays, concession equipment, displays of highly combustible goods and similar items in the mall.

The display of liquid- or gas-fired equipment in the mall.

The use of open-flame or flame-producing equipment in the mall.

The use of a mall as a place of assembly.

An operational permit is required for the manufacture, storage, handling, sale or use of any quantity of explosives, explosive materials, fireworks, or pyrotechnic special effects within the scope of Chapter 56 of this code, or when a local permit or approval from the fire code official is required by the California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 6 - Fireworks, or Chapter 10 - Explosives. See Health and Safety Code Division 11, Part 1, Section 12000, et seq. for additional requirements.

Exceptions:

Storage in Group R-3 occupancies of smokeless propellant, black powder and small arms primers for personal use, not for resale and in accordance with Section 5606.

Small arms ammunition of .75 caliber or less, cartridges for propellant-actuated power devices and cartridges for industrial guns, 20 pounds or less of smokeless powder, five pounds or less of black sporting powder providing such smokeless or black sporting powder is for the hand loading of small arms or small arms ammunition of .75 caliber or less and that it is for personal use and not for resale.

The possession, and use of California State Fire Marshal classified safe and sane fireworks as allowed by State law and local ordinance in accordance with California Health and Safety Code Section 12541.1.

The possession, and use of California State Fire Marshal classified snap caps or party poppers pyrotechnic devices in accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Public Safety.

An operational permit is required:

. . .

To operate tank vehicles, equipment, tanks, plants, terminals, wells, including natural gas wells, fuel-dispensing stations, refineries, distilleries and similar facilities where flammable and combustible liquids are produced, processed, transported, stored, dispensed, or used. See Section 5706.3.9 for oil and natural gas wells.

. . .

Allow a tank car to remain on a siding at the point of delivery while connected for transfer operations. Transfer operations shall be in accordance with Department of Transportation requirements and this code.

An operational permit is required to store, transport on site, dispense, use or handle hazardous materials in excess of the amounts listed in Table 105.5.22. In addition, unified program facility permits are required by Chapters 12.50, 12.52, and 12.64 of Title 12, Environmental Protection, of the County Code.

An operational permit is required to use a building or portion thereof with more than 500 square feet (46 m 2 ), including aisles, of high-piled combustible storage. In addition to any of the requirements of Chapter 32 of this code, a letter describing the type and amount of material to be stored and the method of storage, plus a floor plan showing the dimension and location of the stockpiles and aisles shall be submitted with applications for such permits.

An operational permit is required for:

Storage and use of LP-gas.

Exceptions:

a.

A permit is not required for an individual nonportable outdoor container with a 500-gallon (1893 L) water capacity or less, or for multiple nonportable outdoor containers or outdoor nonportable container systems having an aggregate quantity not exceeding 500 gallons (1893 L) water capacity serving occupancies in Group R-3 on one premises.

b.

A permit is not required for outdoor portable containers of less than 125-gallon (473.2 L) aggregate water capacity on one premises.

c.

A permit is not required for the storage of LP-gas in Department of Transportation specification cylinders with a maximum water capacity of 2½ pounds (1 kg) used in completely self-contained hand torches and similar applications stored or displayed at a consumer or retail site and the total aggregate capacity of all LP-gas containers does not exceed 200 pounds as allowed per Section 6109.9 of this code.

Operation of cargo tankers that transport LP-gas.

An operational permit is required for the kindling or maintaining of an open fire or a fire on any public street, alley, road, or other public or private ground. Instructions and stipulations of the permit shall be complied with.

Exception: A recreational fire is subject to the provisions of this code, but is exempt from need for a permit provided that all of the following apply:

The fire is not located in a wildfire risk area or in a very high, high, or moderate fire hazard severity zone, except where located on private property with consent of the owner; meeting the size requirements in #2, below; and meeting the requirements of Sections 307.4 through 307.5.

The fire conforms to the definition of a "recreational fire", which limits the size of the fire to a total fuel area of 3 feet (914 mm) or less in diameter and 2 feet (610 mm) or less in height; limits the combustibles to burning no rubbish; and restricts the purpose of the fire to pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar.

For restrictions and requirements for each type of open burning, including but not limited to bonfires and recreational fires, see Section 307. For fires, including a small fire, in wildfire risk areas, see "Activities in wildfire risk areas" permit requirements (Sections 105.5.55.1 and 326.2).

An operational permit is required for use and handling of pyrotechnic special effects material. See Health and Safety Code Division 11, Part 2, Section 12500, et seq. for additional requirements. For pyrotechnic and special effects used for motion picture, television, and commercial productions, see Section 105.5.54(2).

An operational permit is required for the operation of a rooftop helicopter facility, including but not limited to one referred to in this code as an Emergency Helicopter Landing Facility (EHLF) for high-rise buildings. See Sections 2007.9 through 2007.11.1.

Issuance of this permit shall be determined at the level of the Fire Marshal, on a case-by-case basis.

In addition to the permits required by Section 105.6, the following permits shall be obtained from the Fire Prevention Division prior to engaging in the following activities, operations, practices, or functions:

Production facilities. To change use or occupancy, or allow the attendance of a live audience, or for wrap parties.

Motion picture, television, commercial, and related production filming — pyrotechnics and special effects. To use pyrotechnic special effects, open flame, hot work, use of flammable or combustible liquids and gases, dust, welding, and the parking of motor vehicles in any building or location used for the purpose of motion picture, television and commercial production.

Live audiences. To install seating arrangements for live audiences in approved production facilities, production studios and sound stages. See Chapter 48.

Motion picture, television, commercial, and related production filming. An operational permit is required to conduct motion picture, television, commercials, and related productions outside of an approved production facility.

Motion picture, television, commercial, and related production filming — fuel-dispensing trucks and vehicles. An annual operational permit is required to dispense flammable or combustible liquids, liquefied petroleum gases, or compressed natural gas from trucks or vehicles to equipment and vehicles on motion picture, television, and commercial production locations.

Commercial still photography production with on-site cast and crew numbering fifteen (15) or more persons. An operational permit is required to take still photographs for commercial purposes outside of an approved production facility and where the on-site cast and crew numbers fifteen (15) or more persons.

The fire code official is authorized to issue permits for any of the following:

An operational permit is required for any of the activities as described in Section 326.2 of this code.

See Chapter 81, AUTOMOBILE WRECKING YARDS.

An operational permit is required for a bonfire, which is defined in this code as "An outdoor fire utilized for ceremonial purposes," and shall be subject to the requirements of open burning. See "Open burning" permit requirement (Sections 105.5.34 and 307), and "Activities in wildfire risk areas" permit requirements (Section 105.5.55.1 and 326.2).

An operational permit is required for nonemergency use of any helicopter landing facility that is intended for emergency use, even if not exclusively; or that is required by the code. See Sections 2007.9 through 2007.11.1. For a "rooftop helicopter facility," see operational permit by that name.

If attendance is greater than 5,000 people, the event shall be in accordance with Reference No. 842 of the County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services Prehospital Care Manual, and a permit for mass-gathering event shall be required. See Section 403.11.2.

An operational permit is required to operate a model rocket motor or an experimental high-powered rocket motor as defined in Title 19 California Code of Regulations, Section 980. See Sections 5611, MODEL ROCKETS, and 5612, EXPERIMENTAL HIGH POWER ROCKETS AND MOTORS.

An operational permit is required to store, manufacture, refurbish, or otherwise handle greater than 2,500 cubic feet (71 m 3 ) of combustible plastic or wood pallets in an outdoor yard.

An operational permit is required to use a parade float for public performance, presentation, spectacle, entertainment, or parade. See Section 324, PARADE FLOATS.

An operational permit is required for any privately contracted resource to conduct private fire prevention activities in an emergency area. Privately contracted fire prevention resources shall comply with all State and local requirements.

See Section 104.12.4, Privately contracted fire prevention resources.

See "Open burning" permit (Sections 105.5.34 and 307), and "Activities in wildfire risk areas" permit (Sections 105.5.55.1 and 326.2) requirements.

An operational permit is required to establish, maintain, or operate a rifle range. See Section 326.2, and Appendix RR, RIFLE RANGE.