Earlier editions: 2026-09
Title 4 — FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS
Nevada County Municipal Code Ch. 4 Emergency Water Supply
Nevada County Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Nevada County
Cite as: Nevada County Municipal Code Chapter 4 · Text as of 2026-10-04
Section 4.04.010 - Purpose and Intent.¶
To provide available and accessible emergency water for wildfire protection on SRA lands, in specified quantities and locations to attack a wildfire or defend property from a wildfire. Such emergency water may be provided in a fire agency mobile water tender or naturally occurring or manmade containment structure, as long as the specified quantity is immediately available.
(Ord. 1734. (09/10/1991); Ord. 2531. (10/24/2023))
Section 4.04.020 - Application.¶
A. Subdivisions, Use Permits, Site Plans. The provisions of this Section shall apply when new parcels, use permits or site plans are approved. The water supply shall be available on-site prior to map recordation in the case of subdivisions or building construction in the case of use permits or site plans.
Remote Single-Family Residential Buildings. The provisions of this Section shall apply when building permits are approved for residential structures that are in excess of eight (8) miles from the closest fire department water tender and which otherwise do not meet the requirements of Section 4.04.030. The stored amount of on-site water available for fire protection shall be compliant with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1142, "Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Firefighting." The minimum amount of stored water required is two thousand five hundred (2500) gallons and may be higher dependent on the size of the structures to be protected and will be exclusive of domestic requirements. The water shall be available on-site at the time of the framing inspection. Construction of the water storage facility shall be in compliance with the drawings kept on file in the office of the Fire Marshal.
(Ord. 2474. (01/14/2020); Ord. 1734. (09/10/1991); Ord. 2531. (10/24/2023))
Section 4.04.030 - General Standards.¶
Each subdivision shall install a water supply system as provided in the following chart. All emergency water to meet fire flow requirements is in addition to the domestic water source.
| Land Use | Density AC/DU | System Type | Fire Flow Req. (GPM) | Hydrant Spacing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Family | 0-.5 | Public (Note 1) | 1,000 | 500 |
| .5—1.0 | Public (Note 1) | 500 | 500 | |
| 1.01—1.5 | Public (Note 1) | 500 | 1,000 | |
| 1.51—3 | Public (Note 1) | 500 | 1,000 | |
| Community (Note 2) | 500 | 1,000 | ||
| 3—5* | Public (Note 1) | 500 | 2,000 | |
| Community (Note 2) | 500 | 2,000 | ||
| Class 8 (Note 3) | 1 mile | |||
| 5+* | Public (Note 1) | 500 | 2,000 | |
| Community (Note 2) | 500 | 1 mile | ||
| Class 8 (Note 3) | 500 | 1 mile | ||
| Multiple-Family Dwellings | Refer to Sec. 10.301(c) of 1988 Uniform Fire Code | |||
| Commercial | Refer to Sec. 10.301(c) of 1988 Uniform Fire Code | |||
| Industrial | Refer to Sec. 10.301(c) of 1988 Uniform Fire Code |
*Note: Subdivisions using Class 8 may require installation of strategic water supply with storage volumes based on the formula for community water systems.
Note 1. Public Water System — Nevada Irrigation District or other public water purveyor standards.
Note 2. Community Water System — Centrally located water storage system maintained by property owners.
In no case shall the water storage quantity be less than four thousand (4,000) gallons regardless of the number of parcels served. All such systems shall be designed to avoid contamination of potable water supplies in accordance with Environmental Health Standards.
The minimum water supply shall be determined by using the Formula Q=1500F when Q=quantity of water storage and F=the number of units or parcels served.
Note 3. Class 8 — Those areas within a fire jurisdiction where the Insurance Services Office (ISO) has issued a dwelling Class 8 rating, typically within five (5) miles of a fire station and within eight (8) miles of a water tender, the stored water requirement for fire protection of single-family residences may be waived.
The minimum water supply shall be determined by using the Formula Q=1500F when Q=quantity of water storage and F=the number of units or parcels served.
(Ord. 2474. (01/14/2020); Ord. 1734. (09/10/1991); Ord. 2531. (10/24/2023))
Section 4.04.040 - Standards for Hydrants/Fire Valves.¶
A. The hydrant shall be located eighteen (18") inches above grade in a turnout/turnaround or other approved location, not less than fifty (50') feet from any building. Flammable vegetation shall be removed within eight (8') feet of the hydrant.
B. The hydrant shall be: (1) brass or anodized aluminum with two-and-a-half (2.5")-inch National Hose male thread with cap for pressure and gravity flow systems and four-and-a-half (4.5")-inch National Hose male thread with a four-and-a-half (4.5")-inch to two-and-a-half (2.5")-inch National Hose reducer with cap for draft systems; or (2) any hydrant approved by the American Water Works Association. Such hydrants shall be an insulated wet barrel or dry barrel as required by the delivery system. It shall have suitable crash protection if required by the local jurisdiction.
C. Signing of Water Sources. Each hydrant/fire valve or access to water shall be identified as follows:
If located along a driveway, a reflectorized blue marker, with a minimum dimension of three (3") inches shall be located on the driveway address sign and mounted on a fire-retardant post, or
If located along a street or road, it shall be marked/signed to the satisfaction of the fire agency with fire protection responsibility or the hydrants located along state highways shall be as specified in the State Fire Marshal's Guidelines for Fire Hydrant Markings Along State Highways and Freeways.
(Ord. 2474. (01/14/2020); Ord. 1734. (09/10/1991); Ord. 2531. (10/24/2023))
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