Paradise Municipal Code Ch. 15.01 Facts and Findings (CA)

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 652, adopted December 9, 2025, repealed Ch. 15.01 and enacted a new Ch. 15.01 as set out herein and as may later be amended. Former Ch. 15.01 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 622, adopted November 7, 2022; and Ord. No. 646, adopted May 13, 2025.

15.01.010 - Facts and findings.¶

A. Changes or Modifications. Pursuant to Sections 17958.5, 17958.7 and 18941.5 of the State of California Health and Safety Code, the Town of Paradise adopts and amends the 2025 California Building Standards Code (Title 24, Part 2) based on the 2024 International Building Code (ICC); the 2025 California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5) based on the 2024 International Residential Code (ICC); the 2025 California Electrical Code (Title 24, Part 3) based on the 2023 National Electrical Code (NFPA); the 2025 California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4) based on the 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code (IAPMO); the 2025 California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) based on the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code (IAPMO); 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (Title 24, Part 7) based on the 2024 IWUIC; the 2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) based on the 2024 International Fire Code (IFC); the 2025 California Administrative Code (Title 24, Part 1); the 2025 California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6); the 2025 California Historical Building Code (Title 24, Part 8); the 2025 California Existing Building Code (Chapter 10; Title 24, Part 10); the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code (Cal Green, Title 24, Part 11) and the 2025 California Referenced Standards Code (Title 24, Part 12).

NOTE: The State of California officially adopted the 2025 California Administrative, Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Historical, Fire, Existing Building, Green Building Standards and Referenced Standards Codes in July of this year, and they become mandatory at the local level effective January 1, 2026.

B. Findings. According to Sections 17958.5, 17958.7, and 18941.5 of the State of California Health and Safety Code, the Town of Paradise has determined and found that the attached amendments, additions, and/or modifications are reasonably necessary because of its local climatic, geologic, and topographical conditions.

C. Local Conditions. Local conditions have an adverse effect on the potential for life and property loss, necessitating changes and modifications to the 2022 California Building Standards Code to establish and maintain an environment that provides the community with a desirable level of protection.

Climatic Conditions.

1A. On average, the Town of Paradise has an annual rainfall of fifty-two (52) to fifty-four (54) inches of rain. However, there is little to no measurable precipitation in the summer months. Heavy rains can characterize winter months, and occasionally heavy snowfalls with accumulations above the one thousand eight hundred (1,800) feet level. During the year, temperatures range from the mid-20s to the low 100s in the summer months, with light to gusty westerly winds. These drying winds, mixed with the density of vegetation, which is dominant throughout the Town, create a hazardous fuel condition that can have severe consequences.

Geographical and Topographical Conditions.

2A. The Town of Paradise is located within Butte County in Northern California. It is approximately one hundred (100) miles north of Sacramento and fifteen (15) miles east of the urban community of Chico. The Town of Paradise's population was approximately 26,000+, and the second largest community in Butte County. The town encompassed 18.6 square miles and was incorporated in 1979. Before incorporation, the town was a county mountain community with older construction of light commercial and industrial with a predominantly residential character.

2B. The Town of Paradise is located one thousand four hundred (1,400) to two thousand two hundred feet (2,200) above sea level. It is bordered by rugged canyons, creating somewhat of a triangular-shaped area in which the town is situated.

2C. This environment has natural vegetative growth that is dense, both in the canyon areas and throughout the town, which presents a challenge and difficulty in fighting and controlling the spread of wildfires. The Town of Paradise has been identified as a very high fire hazard severity zone according to Government Code Sections 51178.5 and 51179, based on the climatic, topographic, and geologic conditions combined with the dense vegetation throughout the town.

2D. The town's topography presents problems in the delivery of emergency services, including fire protection. Hilly terrain with narrow, winding roads with little circulation, limited escape routes, and limited ingress and egress to access the town prevent rapid access and orderly evacuations. Many miles of public streets and private roads were built years ago, and many private roads are substandard in design and access capability due to topography.

2E. Combined with these features, all-weather surfaces based upon the soil and topographic conditions may not be able to support the imposed loads of fire apparatus and reduce accessibility to emergency response personnel. These conditions increase the likelihood of difficulty with approach angles, steep slopes, grades, and emergency response personnel's ability to be effective.

D. Conclusion. Local climatic, geologic, and topographic conditions impact the built environment and necessitate California Building Standards Code amendments. Therefore, it is reasonably necessary to change or modify the State Building Standards Codes to mitigate the effects of the above conditions by adopting this Ordinance. Furthermore, California Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7 require that the modifications or change be expressly marked and identified as to each finding to which it refers. Therefore, the Town of Paradise finds that Exhibit "A" below provides the code sections that have been modified according to the ordinance that are building standards as defined in the Health and Safety Code Section 18909, and the associated referenced conditions or modifications are due to local climatic, geologic and topographical considerations.

EXHIBIT "A" FACTS AND FINDING CORRELATION

PARADISE MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION	CALIFORNIA CODE	CODE SECTION AMENDED	SHORT TITLE	REFERENCED FACT/FINDING
15.02.010	CBC		Adoption	Health & Safety Code 17958.5
15.02.020	CBC	105.2	Work Exempt from Permits	Administrative
15.02.030	CBC	107.6	Expiration of Plan Review	Administrative
15.02.040	CBC	109.4	Commencing Work/Permit	Administrative
15.02.050	CBC	109.6	Refunds	Administrative
15.02.060	CBC	114.4	Violation Penalties	Administrative
15.02.070	CBC	202	Definitions	Administrative
15.02.090	CBC	1603.1.3	Roof Snow Loads	1A, 2A
15.02.100	CBC	J101.1	Scope	Administrative
15.02.110	CBC	J101.3	Purpose	Administrative
15.02.120	CBC	J101.4	Hazards	Administrative
15.02.130	CBC	J102	Definitions	Administrative
15.02.140	CBC	J103	Permits Required	Administrative
15.02.150	CBC	J104.2	Site Plan Requirements	Administrative
15.02.160	CBC	J104.5	Bonds	Administrative
15.02.170	CBC	J105.3	Inspections	Administrative
15.02.180	CBC	J106.2	Rounding of cut slopes	1A, 2A, 2B, 2D, 2E
15.02.190	CBC	J106.3	Private road construction	1A, 2A, 2B, 2D, 2E
15.02.200	CBC	J106.3.1	Private road construction	1A, 2A, 2B, 2D, 2E
15.02.210	CBC	J107.7	Rounding of fill slopes	1A, 2A, 2B, 2D
15.02.220	CBC	J109.5	Overflow protection	1A, 2A, 2B, 2D, 2E
15.02.230	CBC	J110.3	Disturbed surfaces	1A, 2A, 2B, 2D, 2E
15.02.240	CBC	J110.4	Storm damage precautions	1A, 2A, 2B, 2D, 2E
15.03.010	CRC		Adoption	Health & Safety Code 17958.5
15.03.020	CBC	R105.2	Work Exempt from Permits	Administrative
15.03.030	CRC	R108.5	Refunds	Administrative
15.03.040	CRC	R108.6	Commencing Work Before Permit	Administrative
15.03.050	CRC	R202	Definitions	Administrative
15.03.060	CRC	R313.2.2	Alarms	1A, 2C, 2D
15.04.010	CEC		Adoption	Health & Safety Code 17958.5
15.05.010	CMC		Adoption	Health & Safety Code 17958.5
15.06.010	CPC		Adoption	Health & Safety Code 17958.5
15.07.010	Ca. Energy Code		Adoption	Health & Safety Code 17958.5
15.08.010	Ca WUI Code		Adoption	Health & Safety Code 17958.5
15.09.010	Ca. Historical Code		Adoption	Health & Safety Code 17958.5
15.10.010	CFC		Adoption	Health & Safety Code 17958.5
15.10.020	CFC	103	Dept. of Fire Prevention	Administrative
15.10.030	CFC	105.2.3	Time Limitation of Application	Administrative
15.10.040	CFC	106.6.29	Miscellaneous Combustibles	2A, 2B, 2D
15.10.050	CFC	109.3	Violation Penalties	Administrative
15.10.060	CFC	111.4	Failure to Comply	Administrative
15.10.070	CFC	113.3	Work Commencing	Administrative
15.10.080	CFC	113.5	Refunds	Administrative
15.10.090	CFC	202	Sky Lantern	Administrative
15.10.100	CFC	307.1	General Open Burning	1A, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D
15.10.120	CFC	503.2.1	Dimensions	1A, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E
15.10.130	CFC	503.2.3	Surface-Access Roadways	1A, 2A, 2B, 2D, 2E
15.10.140	CFC	503.4.1	Roadway Design Features	1A, 2A, 2B, 2D, 2E
15.10.150	CFC	503.6	Gates	2D, 2E
15.10.160	CFC	505.3	Map/Directory	2D
15.10.170	CFC	507.1.2	Required Water Supply	1A, 2A, 2B, 2D
15.10.180	CFC	510.6.1	Testing and Proof	Administrative
15.10.190	CFC	901.4.2	Non-Required Fire Prot. System	2D
15.10.200	CFC	2306.2.3	Aboveground Storage Tanks	1A, 2A, 2B
15.10.210	CFC	Chapter 56	Fireworks	1A, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D
15.10.220	CFC	B105.2 Exception 1	Reduced Fire Flow	1A, 2A, 2B, 2D
15.10.230	CFC	D103.4	Dead End Access	1A, 2A, 2B, 2D, 2E
15.11.010	Ca. Existing Building Code		Adoption	Health & Safety Code 17958.5
15.12.010	Ca. Green Building Standards Code		Adoption	Health & Safety Code 17958.5
15.13.010	Ca. Administrative Code		Adoption	Health & Safety Code 17958.5
15.14.010	Ca. Ref. Stds.		Adoption	Health & Safety Code 17958.5

(Ord. No. 652, 12-9-2025, eff. 1-8-2025)

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