Los Angeles Municipal Code § 57.4704 Residential Occupancies

A valid permit is required in accordance with Section 57.105.6 to operate or maintain a hotel three or more stories in height or containing 20 or more guest rooms.

The owner, manager, or person in charge of any residential occupancy shall be responsible for providing and controlling the fire and life safety provisions of this section. The person in charge of any residential occupancy shall, upon request of the Chief, furnish the name, address, and telephone number of the owner, manager, representative, or lessee.

Responsible resident requirements shall comply with Sections 57.4704.3.1 through 57.4704.3.3.

In the event an apartment house has 16 or more dwelling units or a hotel has 20 or more guest rooms, either the owner or a responsible resident having charge thereof shall reside on the premises.

The owner or manager of every apartment house in which there are 16 or more dwelling units and every hotel in which there are 20 or more guest rooms shall, upon request of the Chief, furnish in writing both the name, unit number, and telephone number of the current responsible resident and the name, address, and telephone number of the owner or manager. Such statement shall be signed by at least two of the following: owner, manager, or responsible resident.

If the owner does not reside upon the premises of any apartment house in which there are less than 16 dwelling units or any hotel in which there are less than 20 guest rooms, a notice stating the name, address, and telephone number of both the owner and the owner’s agent in charge of the occupancy shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises.

Violation of Section 57.4704.3 shall be subject to penalties and minimum fines as prescribed in Section 57.110.4 and Table 57.110.4.

Posting or distribution of fire safety information shall comply with Sections 57.4704.4.1 through 57.4704.4.7.

Every owner, responsible resident, administrator, or manager of a hotel or motel located in a building which is three or more stories in height, shall cause the fire safety information specified in Section 57.4704.4.3 to be posted and maintained in a clear and legible condition affixed as a notice separate and apart from any other notice at a conspicuous location on the inside surface of the main exit door or adjacent building surface from each guest room. The information shall be printed on a durable material and permanently affixed so as to be easily readable to the occupant of that guest room.

Every owner, responsible resident, administrator, manager, lessor or sub lessor of an apartment house or condominium, any portion of which is three or more stories in height, shall cause the fire safety information specified in Section 57.4704.4.3 to be distributed. The distribution shall be to each occupant, tenant, buyer, lessee, or sub lessee thereof, and shall be accomplished prior to or at the time that person first occupies or enters into possession of the premises. Each distribution shall be accomplished in such a manner to attract the attention of the occupant to the fire safety information and to stress its importance in the event of a fire.

Fire safety information shall be printed in a clear, non- ornamental style of type which is 12 points or larger in size. The fire safety information shall provide the reader with the following instructions on actions to be taken in case of fire:

1. How to call the Fire Department.

2. How to alert others and where to activate the fire alarm system.

3. How to be protected inside a room threatened by fire.

4. How to evacuate the building.

Smoke detector information shall be included in fire safety information and shall state the following: “SMOKE DETECTORS ARE PROVIDED FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY. ANYONE WHO WILLFULLY AND MALICIOUSLY TAMPERS WITH, DAMAGES, BREAKS, OR REMOVES ANY REQUIRED SMOKE DETECTOR SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR. ANY PERSON WHO WILLFULLY AND MALICIOUSLY SENDS, GIVES, TRANSMITS, OR SOUNDS ANY FALSE ALARM OF FIRE IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.”

The Chief shall have the authority to provide for and approve slight modifications in the fire safety information required to be posted or distributed pursuant to this section. No modification shall be made without prior approval of the Chief.

A sample format of the fire safety information required by this section shall be available for inspection at the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Public Safety and at locations designated by the Chief.

In the event a substantial number of the patrons and occupants of any occupancy regulated by this section do not read or comprehend the English language, the required fire safety information shall be printed in both English and the language understood by the patrons and occupants.

No person shall remove or deface any fire safety information required in this section except to repair or replace the notice or the surface upon which it is affixed.

Violation of Section 57.4704.4 shall be subject to penalties and minimum fines as prescribed in Section 57.110.4 and Table 57.110.4.

Smoke detector maintenance shall comply with Sections 57.4704.5.1 through 57.4704.5.5.

Smoke detectors required by Chapter 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (Building Code) shall be maintained in dependable operating condition and tested every six months or as required by the Chief. An accurate

record of such tests shall be kept by the owner, manager, or person in charge of the property, and such records shall be open to examination by the Chief.

Every tenant, including every person occupying a dwelling unit or guest room, shall notify in writing the owner or the owner’s designated agent as soon as possible of a known defect or malfunction in a smoke detector required by Chapter 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (Building Code). After an occupant has so notified the owner or agent that occupant’s duty will cease.

Any owner or owner’s agent may enter any dwelling unit or guest room owned by such owner for the purpose of inspecting, repairing, testing, and maintaining smoke detectors required by Chapter 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (Building Code). Except in cases of emergency, the owner or owner’s agent shall give the tenant reasonable notice in writing of the intention to enter and shall enter only during normal business hours. A period of 24 hours shall be considered to be reasonable notice in the absence of evidence to the contrary.

No tenant, after reasonable notice has been given as herein provided, shall refuse to permit the owner or owner’s agent to enter the premises for any of the purposes enumerated in Section 57.4704.5.3.

No person shall remove or render inoperable any required smoke detector except to repair or replace such smoke detector.

Violation of Section 57.4704.5 shall be subject to penalties and minimum fines as prescribed in Section 57.110.4 and Table 57.110.4.

Flammable and combustible liquids in dwelling units and guest rooms shall comply with Sections 57.4704.6.1 through 57.4704.6.5.1.

The storage, handling, and use of Class IA liquids in any dwelling unit or guest room, or in any room, building, or premises accessory to a dwelling unit or guest room, except as otherwise regulated by this article, is prohibited.

Class IB, IC or Class II liquids with a flashpoint below 110°F shall not be used in any dwelling unit or guest room for any of the following purposes:

1. The cleaning by dipping or submerging of any clothing, drapes, bedding, or similar material.

2. The cleaning or polishing of floors, walls, ceilings, windows, furniture, equipment, or similar surfaces.

3. Insecticides, pest sprays, or rodent exterminators.

4. Washing parts or removing grease or dirt.

The storage, handling, and use of Class IB, IC, or combustible liquids in hotels or apartment houses shall be only for the purpose of maintenance and operation of maintenance equipment. Storage shall be in approved containers and in hazardous material cabinets in locations approved by the Chief.

Maximum quantities in hotels or apartment houses for Class IB, IC, and Class II liquids combined shall not exceed 10 gallons and for Class III liquids shall not exceed 60 gallons.

EXCEPTION: Storage in excess of these amounts may be approved by the Chief if stored in a Hazardous Material Room or an H-l, H-2, or H-3 occupancy that has no openings into portions of the building used by the public.

Flammable liquids shall not be stored, handled, or used in basements of any residential occupancy.

Class II or Class III liquids in quantities not exceeding those in Section 57.4704.6.4 may be stored in basements with approval and Special Permit from the Chief pursuant to Section 57.105.8, provided the basement is protected by an automatic fire extinguishing system in accordance with Chapter 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (Plumbing Code).

Flammable and Combustible Liquids in Dwellings shall comply with Sections 57.4704.7.1 through 57.4704.7.2. Storage of flammable and/or combustible liquids in dwellings shall be in approved containers and shall be restricted to private garages, carports, or other locations approved by the Chief.

The storage and use of Class IA liquids in dwellings is prohibited.

EXCEPTION: Not more than 2 gallons of flammable aerosol containers.

The maximum quantities stored in dwellings shall not exceed 10 gallons for Class IB or IC liquids, 15 gallons for Class II liquids, and 60 gallons for Class III liquids.

No person shall use, maintain, or allow to exist any portable, fuel-burning, unvented room heater in any residential occupancy.

Violation of Section 57.4704.8 shall be subject to penalties and minimum fines as prescribed in Section 57.110.4 and Table 57.110.4.

No person shall store or use compressed gases or liquefied flammable gases within a residential occupancy.

EXCEPTION: Permanent outside installations of containers and equipment when installed in compliance with Chapter 47 of this article.

Spark arresters shall comply with Sections 57.4704.10.1 through 57.4704.10.2.

Every residential occupancy in which is installed any chimney, flue, or stovepipe attached to any fireplace, stove, barbeque, or other device that burns any solid or liquid fuel shall have such chimney, flue, or stovepipe equipped with an approved spark arrester installed in such a manner as to be visible for the purposes of inspection and maintenance.

No person shall maintain any chimney, flue, or stovepipe in such a manner as to create a fire hazard.