Los Angeles Municipal Code § 57.806 Natural Decorative Vegetation in New and Existing Buildings

Section 806 of the IFC is hereby adopted in its entirety with the following exceptions, modifications, and additions.

In buildings, tents, premises, or portions thereof, to which the public is admitted or invited, Christmas trees and decorations shall comply with the provisions of this section.

The base of cut natural trees shall be kept in water or wet sand.

Cut natural trees shall be flame-retardant treated in accordance with Title 19, C.C.R., and a State Fire Marshal Certificate of Flame Resistance Tag shall be attached near the base.

All decorations used on Christmas trees shall be non- combustible or flame-retardant and shall meet the requirements of Title 19, C.C.R.

The Chief may, at any time, take samples from any Christmas tree or decoration and field test the specimen in accordance with NFPA 705, Chapter 4. The field test shall be performed in a safe location, using a common flame applied for 12 seconds of exposure to the sample. During the exposure, flaming shall not spread over the complete length of the sample, or in excess of 4 inches from the bottom of the sample for larger sample sizes. After flame shall not be more than two seconds. Materials which break and drip flaming particles shall be considered hazardous. Christmas trees or any decorations determined by the Chief to be a fire hazard shall be immediately removed from the building.

Christmas trees shall be located clear of exits and aisles and in an area separated from ordinary combustibles by a distance not less than the height of the tree.

A Special Permit from the Chief, pursuant to Section 57.105.8, shall be required for any storage, display, sale, or other use of Christmas trees within buildings where more than ten trees are located.

Every person conducting, managing or operating a Christmas tree sales business, whether exclusively or in conjunction with the sale of other goods, wares or merchandise, shall attach, or cause to be attached, a Fire Safety Tag to each tree greater than 2 feet tall and having a base greater than 1 inch in diameter prior to the sale of such tree. The tag shall be securely affixed to the tree and shall have the following statements, as a minimum, printed on it:

1. Make a fresh cut on the bottom of the tree; place in a reservoir tree stand filled with water.

2. Water Christmas tree daily.

3. Test your smoke detectors.

4. Never use lights with frayed cords or empty sockets.

5. Mini-lights are safest; they produce less heat.

6. Do not use candles on or near tree.

7. Turn off all Christmas lights prior to leaving your home or going to bed.

8. Safely dispose of your tree before it becomes dangerously dry.

9. Never burn your tree or any part of it in a fireplace.

10. Pick-up/drop-off disposal services offered by the Bureau of Sanitation.

The telephone number for the Bureau of Sanitation shall be obtained from the Fire Department. All statements shall be on one side of the tag. In the event a language other than English is the primary language of the majority of persons residing within one-half mile of the location of the business, the same statements shall be printed on the reverse side of the tag in that language. Tags shall have a minimum width of 3 inches and a minimum length of 7 inches. The text of the tag shall be at least 12 points in size in conventional font. Tags must be made of 30 lb. stock paper or equivalent. Each tag shall have a hole at the top to receive a wire-tie, plastic tie or other material that can be used to attach the tag securely to the tree.