Mountain View Municipal Code Art. II Shelters

The rules and regulations established by this article shall apply to all civil defense shelters as defined in Sec. 11.15 of this Code, whether located above ground or below, when such shelters are used or intended to be used solely and exclusively for the purpose of providing protection to the occupants thereof from the effects of blasts, fire, heat and radiological fallout. These regulations are not intended to apply to buildings or structures within which the function of a civil defense shelter is combined with other types of occupancies.

(Ord. No. 175.831, 11/26/62.)

For the purposes of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:

Civil defense shelter. "Civil defense shelter" shall mean any building or structure or portion of a building or structure which is designed to be used exclusively for the purpose of providing protection to the occupants thereof from the effects of blasts, fire, heat and radiological fallout.

Disaster. "Disaster" shall mean actual or imminently threatened enemy attack, sabotage, extraordinary fire, floods, storm, epidemic, riot, earthquake or other similar public calamity.

(Ord. No. 175.831, 11/26/62.)

The provisions of the following sections of this Code or ordinances of the city shall be inapplicable to civil defense shelters, as defined in Sec. 11.15:

a. Sec. 8.1 of this Code, adopting the Uniform Building Code.

b. Article I of Chapter 4 of Ordinance No. 175.720, being the Zoning Ordinance of the city.

This section shall permit the location of civil defense shelters within any required yard or building setback area, except in the public way; provided, that no portion of such structure shall project above the existing grade, with the exception of inlet or outlet vents not exceeding twenty-four (24) inches in height. Any civil defense shelter located partially or wholly above ground shall comply with all pertinent setback regulations as contained in Article I, Chapter 4, of the Zoning Ordinance.

(Ord. No. 175.831, 11/26/62.)

Civil defense shelters shall be constructed of incombustible materials and shall be of a design approved by the building inspector and the civil defense coordinator of the city. Plans and specifications shall be prepared by a registered architect or structural engineer as provided by the Business and Professions Code of the state, and shall comply with the recommended standards of the office of civil defense mobilization. Shelters shall be inspected during construction by the building inspector or his authorized representative as often as is required to determine compliance with the approved design and construction standards. If, upon completion of construction, the building inspector determines that the structure meets all the pertinent provisions of this article, he shall authorize occupancy of the shelter under conditions specified in Sec. 11.19.b of this Code.

(Ord. No. 175.831, 11/26/62.)

Upon presentation of the proper credentials, the building inspector or the civil defense coordinator or their duly authorized representatives may enter at any reasonable time any building, structure, or premises in the city for the purpose of inspecting any civil defense shelter being erected, constructed or maintained under the provisions of this article.

(Ord. No. 175.831, 11/26/62.)

a. It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, demolish, use or occupy any building or structure which is designed exclusively as a civil defense shelter without first having received a permit from the building inspector. No payment of fees shall be required for such permit.

b. It shall be unlawful to use, occupy or cause or permit the use or occupancy of any civil defense shelter, as defined in Sec. 11.15, for any purpose except during a period or time of disaster.

(Ord. No. 175.831, 11/26/62.)