Oxnard Municipal Code Art. XV California Fire Code

The ninth part of twelve parts of the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, known as the California Fire Code ("CFC") 2025 Edition, including Appendix Chapter 4, Appendix B, Appendix C, Appendix D, Appendix F, and Appendix P, published by the Building Standards Commission, 2525 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 130, Sacramento CA 95833-2936, is hereby adopted by reference, subject to the amendments, additions, and deletions hereinafter set forth. One copy of such code is on file in the office of the City Clerk and is available for public inspection as required by law.

(Ord. No. 3021, 3070)

(A) Chapter 1, Section [A] 101.1: Amend Section [A] 101.1 to read:

[A] 101.1. Title. These regulations shall be known as the Fire Code of the City of Oxnard, hereinafter referred to as "this code".

(B) Chapter 1, Section [A] 103.1: Amend Section [A] 103.1 to read:

[A] 103.1. Creation of agency. The Oxnard Fire Prevention Bureau is hereby created and the official in charge thereof shall be known as the fire code official. The function of the agency shall be the implementation, administration and enforcement of the provisions of this code.

(C) Chapter 1, Section 104.12: Add Section 104.12 to read:

104.12. General. When the chief finds in any building, on any premises, or on any lot or parcel combustible, hazardous or explosive materials or dangerous accumulations of rubbish; or finds unnecessary accumulations of wastepaper, boxes, shavings, or any highly flammable materials which are so situated as to endanger life or property; or finds obstructions to or on fire escapes, stairs, passageways, doors, or windows that reasonably tend to interfere with the operations of the Fire Department or the egress of the occupants of such building or premises; or finds that this code is being violated, the chief is authorized to issue orders as necessary for the enforcement of the fire prevention laws and ordinances governing the same and for the safeguarding of life and property from fire.

(D) Chapter 1, Section 104.12: Add Section 104.12.1 to read:

104.12.1. Cost Recovery. Where an emergency situation is caused or exacerbated by a willful act, a negligent act, or a violation of the Fire Code, Building Code, or any other applicable law, ordinance or regulation, the cost of mitigating and securing any emergency that is within the responsibility of the Fire Chief shall be charged against the person who caused the emergency or who caused the circumstances leading to the creation of the emergency. Damages and expenses incurred by any public agency providing mutual aid shall constitute debt of such person and shall be collectible by the Fire Chief for proper distribution in the same manner as in the case of an obligation under contract expressed or implied. Expenses as stated above shall include, but not limited to, equipment and personnel committed and any payments required by the public agency to outside business firms requested by the public agency to mitigate or secure the emergency, monitor remediation, and clean up.

(E) Chapter 1, Section 104.13: Add Section 104.13 to read:

104.13. Stopping uses, evacuation. The chief is authorized to order an operation or use stopped, or the evacuation of any premises building or vehicle or portion thereof which has or is a fire hazard, hazardous condition or situation which presents a hazard to life or property.

(F) Chapter 1, Section 105.5.59: Add Subsection 4 to read:

1. Cannabis. An operational permit is required to dispense, test, distribute, grow, manufacture, or cultivate cannabis for commercial use.

(G) Chapter 1, Section 105.5.59: Add Subsection 5 to read:

2. Wood and Wood Composite Pallet Manufacturing and Recycling Facilities. Wood and wood composite pallet manufacturing and recycling facilities require an operational permit.

(H) Chapter 1, Section 105.5.59: Add Subsection 6 to read:

3. Electronic Gate Access. Where section 503.7 Electronic and Electric Access Gates applies, an operational permit is required.

(I) Section [A] 113.4: Amend Section [A] 113.4 to read:

[A] 113.4. Violation Penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair, or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the fire code official, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this code, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment not exceeding (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.

(J) Section 202: The following definitions are added or amended to read as follows:

Fire Chief. The Chief Officer of the Fire Department serving the jurisdiction.

Fire Code Official. The fire chief or other member of the fire department appointed by the fire chief charged with the administration and enforcement of this code.

Operational Fire Permit. An official document or certificate issued by the Oxnard Fire Department which authorizes performance of a specific activity.

(K) Section 401.10: Add Section 401.10 to read:

401.10. Immediate Reporting of a Release or a Threatened Release. Any person who stores, transports, dispenses, uses, or handles hazardous materials, or any facility required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations to prepare or maintain a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)/Safety Data Sheets (SDS), including those who store extremely hazardous substances shall provide an immediate, verbal report of any release or threatened release of a hazardous material to the City of Oxnard Fire Department accessing the 911 emergency reporting system without delay as soon as:

1. A person has knowledge of the release or threatened release;

a. Notification can be provided without impeding immediate control of the release or threatened release;

b. Notification can be provided without impeding immediate emergency medical measures.

2. The immediate reporting pursuant to subsection #1. of this section shall include, as a minimum:

a. The exact location of the release or threatened release;

b. The name of the person reporting the release or threatened release;

c. The hazardous materials involved in the release or threatened release;

d. An estimate of the quantity of hazardous materials involved; and

e. If known, the potential hazards presented by the hazardous material involved in the release or threatened release.

(L) Section 503.1.2.1: Add Section 503.1.2.1 to read:

503.1.2.1. Difficult Apparatus Access. If the Fire Code Official determines that access for fire apparatus to any building or structure is unduly difficult, installation of an automatic fire-extinguisher system shall be required.

(M) Section 503.2.1: Amend Section 503.2.1 to read:

503.2.1. Dimensions. Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 26 feet (7925 mm) and an unobstructed height of not less than 13 feet 6 inches (4115 mm).

Exceptions:

1. Alleys without fire hydrants must have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 feet (6096 mm).

2. Approved security gates in accordance with Section 503.6.

(N) Section 503.7: Add Section 503.7 to read:

503.7. Electronic and Electric Access Gates. When access to or within a structure or area is impeded by an electronically or electrically secured opening or gate, such electronically or electrically secured opening or gate shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with plans approved by the Fire Code Official or Oxnard Police Department. The Fire Code Official or Oxnard Police Department shall not approve such plans unless the plans allow emergency vehicles and emergency personnel to open such electronically or electrically secured openings or gates by City approved radio equipment used by such emergency vehicles or personnel.

On or before August 1, 2006, all existing electronically or electrically secured openings or gates that impede access to a structure or area shall either be (a) removed, or (b) constructed and maintained in accordance with plans approved by the Fire Code Official or Oxnard Police Department.

For the purposes of this section 503.7, "opening" shall be limited to an exterior door for a commercial or industrial building or a door on a commercial, industrial, or residential property that limits access to a common area that is an accessway to more than one commercial, industrial, or residential occupancy.

(O) Section 503.7.1: Add Section 503.7.1 to read:

503.7.1. Battery Backup. Electronic and Electric Access Gates shall be installed with battery back up to ensure functionality in the case of power failure to the primary means of power.

(P) Section 503.7.2: Add Section 503.7.2 to read:

503.7.2. Electronic and Electric Access Gates Maintenance. Electronic and Electric Access Gates shall be maintained in working order at all times. Inspections, testing and maintenance shall occur on an annual basis to verify proper functionality of Electronic and Electric Access Gates. Electronic and Electric Access Gates found to be not functioning properly shall be secured in a manner which ensures access at all times as needed. Notification of non working Electronic and Electric Access Gates shall be made to the fire code official at time of discovery.

(Q) Section 503.7.3: Add Section 503.7.3 to read:

503.7.3. Electronic and Electric Access Gates Maintenance Records. All contractors who service, test, install and/or maintain Electronic and Electric Access Gates within the city are required to enroll and utilize the designated and approved single-point repository service to file records of all system inspections, tests, and maintenance as required by the fire code official. This repository service shall be maintained electronically and provided to the fire code official through a third party inspection reporting system. Fees, as applicable, will be paid directly from the contractor to the approved single-point repository service vendor. It is the responsibility of the third party testing company to upload test data to the single-point repository within 30 days of test completion

(R) Section 507.5: Amend Section 507.5 to read:

507.5. Fire Hydrant systems. Fire hydrant systems shall comply with Sections 507.5.1 through 507.5.6 and Oxnard Fire Department published Standards and Appendix C or by an approved method.

(S) Section 507.5.1.1: Amend Section 507.5.1.1 to read:

507.5.1.1. Hydrant for standpipe systems. Buildings equipped with a standpipe system installed in accordance with Section 905 shall have a fire hydrant within 50 feet (15 m) of the fire department connections.

Exception: The distance shall be permitted to exceed 50 feet (15 m) where approved by the fire code official.

(T) Section 901.6.3.2: Add Section 901.6.3.2 to read:

901.6.3.2 System Records. All contractors or property owners who service, test, install and/or maintain fire protection systems and devices within the city are required to enroll and utilize the designated and approved single-point repository service to file records of all system inspections, tests, and maintenance required by the referenced standards. This repository service shall be maintained electronically and provided to the fire code official through a third party inspection reporting system. Fees, as applicable, will be paid directly from the Responsible Party to the approved single-point repository service vendor. It is the responsibility of the third party testing company to upload test data to the single-point repository within 30 days of test completion.

(U) Section 903.4.2.1: Add Section 903.4.2.1 to read:

903.4.2.1. Exterior Strobe. Provide an approved exterior strobe, in an approved location, visible from the street or approach roadway or drive aisle.

(V) Section 904.3.5: Amend Section 904.3.5 to read:

904.3.5. Monitoring. Where a building fire alarm system, or a monitoring and alarm system complying with section 903.4, is installed, automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall be monitored by the building fire alarm system or the monitoring and alarm system in accordance with NFPA 72.

(W) Section 906.1, #10. Add Section 906.1, #10 to read:

10. As required by the Fire Code Official.

(X) Section 907.3.5: Add Section 907.3.5 to read:

907.3.5. Fog or Smoke Emitting Systems. No system shall be installed in any building/structure or portion thereof, which discharges any gas, vapor, liquid or other product when the primary intent of system discharge is to obscure the vision, cause disorientation, or otherwise incapacitate any occupant of said building/structure or portion thereof. Nothing in this section is intended to preclude the installation of an approved fire suppression system.

(Y) Section 907.5.2.3.5: Add Section 907.5.2.3.5 to read:

907.5.2.3.5. Exterior Strobe. Provide an approved exterior strobe, in an approved location, visible from the street or approach roadway or drive aisle.

(Z) Section 3901.1: Amend Section 3901.1 to read:

3901.1. Scope. Plant cultivation, processing, or extraction facilities shall comply with this chapter and the California Building Code. The extraction process includes the act of extraction of the oils and fats by use of a solvent, desolventizing of the raw material, production of the miscella, distillation of the solvent from the miscella, and solvent recovery. The use, storage, transfilling, and handling of hazardous materials in these facilities shall comply with this chapter, other applicable provisions of this code, Chapter 38 of NFPA 1, and the California Building Code.

(AA) Reserved

(BB) Section B105: Amend Table B105.2 to read:

Table B105.2. Column two - Minimum Fire-flow, Row two of three: 50% of the value in Table B105.1(2)a

Table B105.2. Column two - Minimum Fire-flow, Row three of three: 50% of the value in Table B105.1(2)b

(CC) Section D102.1: Amend Section D102.1, to read:

D102.1. Access and loading. Facilities, buildings or portions of buildings hereafter constructed shall be accessible to fire department apparatus by way of an approved fire apparatus access road with an asphalt, concrete of or approved driving surface capable of supporting the imposed load of fire apparatus weighing at least 76,000 pounds (34,550 kg).

(DD) Section D103.5 #1: Amend Section D103.5 #1, to read:

#1. Where a single gate is provided, the gate width shall be not less than 20 feet (6096 mm). Where a fire apparatus road consists of a divided roadway, the gate width shall be not less than 15 feet (4572 mm).

(Ord. No. 3021, 3070)