Pacifica Municipal Code Art. 1 Fire Code

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. 886-C.S., §§ 26, 27, effective January 1, 2023, repealed Art. 1, §§ 4-3.101—4-3.125 and enacted a new Art. 1 as set out herein. Former Art. 1, pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. 852-C.S., § 27, effective January 1, 2020.

For the purpose of regulating the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, removal, demolition, conversion, occupancy, equipment, use, height, area, and maintenance of all buildings and structures and grading in the City of Pacifica, Chapters 1 through 67, including Appendix B ("Fire-Flow Requirements for Buildings"), Appendix C ("Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution"), Appendix D ("Fire Apparatus Access Roads"), and Appendix F ("Hazard Ranking"), Appendix L ("Requirements for Fire Fighter Air Replenishment Systems") of that certain code designated as the California Fire Code, 2025 Edition [CCR Title 24, Part 9], published by the International Code Council, amended by the State of California and as adopted and/or amended by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, which is on file in the Office of the City Clerk for public record and inspection, is hereby adopted by reference and made a part of this chapter as though set forth in this chapter in full, subject, however, to the amendments, additions, and deletions set forth in this chapter, and said code shall be known as Fire Code for the City of Pacifica.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

The California Fire Code shall be enforced by the Fire Prevention Services Bureau in the Fire Department of the City, which Bureau is hereby established, and which shall be operated under the supervision of the Fire Chief.

The Fire Marshal in charge of the Fire Prevention Services Bureau shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Article 4 of Chapter 5 of Title 2 of this Code and Council Resolution No. 82-69.

The Fire Chief may detail such members of the Fire Department as shall from time to time be necessary.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section 105.1.1 is amended by adding the following paragraph at the end of the section:

The city council of the City of Pacifica may, if it so desires, establish by resolution permit fees in connection with any permit required or authorized to be issued by the fire chief or any other authorized representative of the fire department.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section 105.5 is amended by adding the following at the end of the section:

105.5.60 Institutions and day care. An operational permit is required to operate any and all occupancies that are set forth under Group I Occupancies, and Group E Occupancy of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, each accommodating more than six people.

105.5.61 Residential care facility. An operational permit is required to operate a residential care/assisted living facility as set forth under Group R, Division 4 Occupancies.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section 202 is added to read as follows:

202 Definitions.

(a) Wherever the word "jurisdiction" is used in said California Fire Code, it shall be held to mean the City of Pacifica.

(b) Wherever the term "Corporation Counsel" is used in said California Fire Code, it shall be held to mean the City Attorney.

(c) Wherever the words "Fire Code Official" are used in said California Fire Code, they shall be held to mean the Fire Marshal.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section 505.1 of the California Fire Code is amended by adding the following at the end of the section:

Said numbers shall be internally or externally illuminated in all new construction, or when alterations or repairs of existing construction occur.

The size and location of address numbers for multi-family dwellings and all other occupancies shall be as designated by the Fire Marshal.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section 507.5.7 is added to the California Fire Code read as follows:

507.5.7 Hydrants. All new fire hydrants shall be UL listed, or equivalent, wet barrel type having a minimum of two 2 ½" and one 4 ½" outlets, all equipped with national standard threads (Clow 860, or approved equivalent). The minimum fire service main size permitted is six inch (6").

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section 509.1.2 is added to the California Fire Code read as follows:

509.1.2 Utility Identification in Multi-Family Tenant Buildings. Utility markings of all gas and electric utility services in multi-family tenant buildings shall be visibly and legibly marked with the unit identification.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section 903.2 of the California Fire Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

903.2 Required Installations.

A. Newly Constructed Buildings and Structures. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be installed in all new occupancies and locations.

Exception. Detached U occupancies not exceeding 1,000 square feet in size, when accessory to an R-3 dwelling.

B. Existing Buildings and Structures. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be installed throughout all buildings when an addition is added to the building.

Exceptions:

1. When an addition to a R-3 occupancy is less than 1,000 square feet in size and when an addition to all other occupancies is less than 500 square feet in size, no sprinklers are required in either the addition or the existing building.

2. The construction of an accessory dwelling unit shall not trigger a requirement for fire sprinklers to be installed in an existing dwelling, including any addition solely for purposes of accessory dwelling unit construction.

3. When specifically exempted by the Fire Code Official.

C.903.2.22 Car Stackers. Parking garage areas containing car stackers shall be protected by an automatic wet-pipe sprinkler system designed to the current edition of NFPA 13. In addition, non-extended coverage standard sidewall sprinklers listed for Ordinary Hazard shall be provided under each parking level, including the bottom level if the stacker is provided with a pit. Each sidewall sprinkler shall cover an area of 80 sq. ft. or less.

The area of application may be reduced from the required 2,500 sq. ft. to as low as 1,500 sq. ft. if:

1. 1-hour fire rated walls are provided to separate the car stacker areas from the standard parking stalls,

2. The car stacker areas are divided up into 1,500 sq. ft. areas via 1-hour fire rated walls, and

3. One-hour fire rated walls are provided to separate the car stacker areas from any other areas in the garage.

One-hour fired rated walls are not required in the driveway areas. For the hydraulic calculation, flow from all sprinklers, upright or pendent sprinklers at ceiling and all sidewall sprinklers at all levels, located in the area of application shall be included in the calculation.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section 903.4.3 is amended by adding the following to the end of the paragraph:

In addition to the audible device(s) required by this section, an approved strobe light shall be located on the exterior of the building in an approved location.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section 904.2.2 is amended by adding the following to the end of the paragraph:

The location(s) of all cooking appliances that are protected by an approved automatic fire extinguishing system shall be permanently identified either by a wall mounted "approved" appliance floor plan or marked on the floor in a manner approved by the Fire Marshal.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section 907.7.3 of the California Fire Code is amended by adding the following paragraph:

Each fire alarm system shall have posted at the main control panel instructions for silencing and resetting the system, the day and night phone numbers of the person responsible for the property, and the company or individual providing maintenance services for the alarm system.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section 907.8.1 of the California Fire Code is amended by adding the following to the end of the paragraph:

Owners and operators of group R-1 occupancies shall provide documentation to the Fire Department, such as annual inspection forms, which confirm that all smoke detection devices and equipment within apartment units are installed and are in good operating condition.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section 914.3.9 is added to read as follows:

Section 914.3.9 Firefighter Breathing Air Replenishment.

All Group B and Group R occupancies, each having floors used for human occupancy located more than seventy-five feet (75') above the lowest level of fire department vehicular access, shall be equipped with an approved Firefighter Breathing Air Replenishment System as outlined in Appendix L. Such a system shall provide an adequate pressurized fresh air supply through a permanent piping system for the replenishment of portable life sustaining air equipment carried by fire department, rescue, and other personnel in the performance of their duties. Location and specifications of access stations to, and the installation of, such air replenishment systems shall be made in accordance with the requirements of the Fire Chief.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section 5608.1 is amended by adding the following to the end of the paragraph:

The sale and discharge of safe and sane fireworks is permitted only as provided in the Pacifica Municipal Code.

Section 5608.1.2 is hereby added to read as follows:

5608.1.2 Dangerous Fireworks Prohibited. Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess, store, offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail, or use or explode any fireworks, except those designated as "safe and sane" and approved by the State Fire Marshal. No person under the age of eighteen (18) shall be permitted to purchase or sell "safe and sane" fireworks. The Fire Chief shall have the power to adopt reasonable rules and regulations for the granting of permits for supervised public displays of fireworks by a jurisdiction, fair association, amusement park, or other organization or for the use of fireworks by artisans in the pursuit of their trade. Every such use or display shall be handled by a competent operator approved by the Fire Chief and shall be of such character and so located, discharged, or fired so as, in the opinion of the Fire Chief after proper investigation, not to be hazardous to property or endanger any person, and shall be in accordance with Chapter 56 of said California Fire Code.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section 5706.2.4.4 is amended by adding the following paragraph at the end of the section:

The storage of flammable or combustible liquids in above-ground outside storage tanks is prohibited in all areas of the City except for those areas with the zoning designation of Public Facilities District. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fire Chief may grant a permit for such storage in other areas of the City if the Chief determines, in each case, that the storage is required for the conduct of a lawful use upon the property, will not constitute a safety hazard, and will otherwise comply with all applicable provisions of this Code and all other ordinances, rules and regulations of the City. The Chief may impose such conditions and requirements upon the issuance of the permit, as the Chief deems necessary or appropriate.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section 6104.2 is amended by adding the following paragraph at the end of the first paragraph:

The aggregate storage of liquefied petroleum gas at any one installation in excess of two thousand (2,000) gallons (7,570 L) is prohibited in all areas of the City except for those areas with the zoning designation of Public Facilities District. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fire Chief may grant a permit for such storage in other areas of the City if the Chief determines, in each case, that the storage is required for the conduct of a lawful use upon the property, will not constitute a safety hazard, and will otherwise comply with all applicable provisions of this Code and all other ordinances, rules and regulations of the City. The Chief may impose such conditions and requirements upon the issuance of the permit, as the Chief deems necessary or appropriate.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section D101.2 is added to read as follows:

D101.2 - Definition. Fire Apparatus Access Road. A road that provides fire apparatus access from a fire station to a facility, building or portion thereof. This is a general term inclusive of all other terms such as but not limited to fire lane, public street, private street, parking lot lane, access roadway and driveway.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

1. Section D102.2 is added to Appendix D of the California Fire Code to read as follows:

Section D102.2. Fire department access shall extend to within 50 feet (15 m) of at least one exterior door that can be opened from the outside and that provides access to the interior of the building.

Exception: one- or two-family dwellings or townhouses protected with 13D or 13R may be permitted to be increased to 150 ft. (46 m).

2. Section 102.3 is added to Appendix D of the California Fire Code to read as follows:

Large Buildings. Fire department access roads shall be provided such that any portion of the facility or any portion of an exterior wall of the first story of the building is located not more than 150 ft. (46 m) from fire department access roads as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building or facility.

3. Section 102.4 is added to the California Fire Code to read as follows:

Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 ft. 6 in. (4.1 m).

4. Section D102.5 is added to the California Fire Code to read as follows:

Exception: When fire department access roads cannot be installed due to location on the property, topography, waterways, nonnegotiable grades, or other similar conditions the Fire Marshal shall be authorized to require fire protection features in addition to those already required.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)

Section D103.7 is added to Appendix D of the California Fire Code to read:

D103.7 - Marking where fire lanes on private property have been designated by the Fire Marshal, curbs shall be painted red on the side or sides of the street or access route where parking is prohibited and no parking signs or other appropriate notice prohibiting obstructions, as approved by the Fire Marshal, shall be provided and maintained by the owner.

(§ 27, Ord. 886-C.S., eff. January 1, 2023; § 7, Ord. 904-C.S., eff. January 1, 2026)