Chapter 9 — Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems

901.6.3.2 is added to read as follows:

 901.6.3.2 Records Reporting. Fire detection, alarm, and extinguishing systems shall be maintained in an

 operative condition at all times and shall be replaced or repaired where defective. Non-required Zre

 protection systems and equipment shall be inspected, tested, and maintained or removed. All inspection,

 testing and maintenance reports shall be forwarded to the Fire Department in a manner approved by

the Fire Authority and referenced by the published standards and guidelines.

901.7.6.1 is added to read as follows:

 901.7.6.1 Problematic and Unreliable Fire Alarms. The Fire Code O\cial may determine a Zre alarm to

be unreliable upon receipt of three (3) nuisance alarms within a twelve-month period. Upon making such

a Znding, the Fire Code O\cial may order the following:

 1. For any nuisance alarm where the system is not restored, the system owner must provide Fire Watch

Personnel in accordance with Fire Prevention Bureau Standards and Section 403.11.1 or take such other

measures as the Fire Code O\cial deems appropriate. Such measures shall remain in place until a Zre

department approved Zre alarm maintenance Zrm certiZes in writing to the Fire Code O\cial that the

alarm system has been restored to a reliable condition, and a Fire Code O\cial releases the property

from Fire Watch. The Fire Code O\cial may require such tests as they deem necessary to demonstrate

the adequacy of the system.

 2. Require the owner to pay mitigation fees pursuant to the City of Petaluma fee schedule.

902.1 DeKnitions.

Section 902.1 is amended to add the following:

Substantial Remodel.

     The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 17 Building and Construction | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 7 of 170

Section 903.2 is amended to read as follows:

903.2 Where required. Approved automatic sprinkler systems in new buildings and structures shall be

provided in the locations described in Sections 903.2.1 through 903.2.12 and Sections 903.2.14 through

 903.2.21. Approved automatic sprinkler systems in existing buildings and structures shall be provided in

 locations described in Section 903.6.

Exceptions:

 1. Agricultural buildings as approved by the Zre code o\cial.

 2. Detached accessory structures to Group R-3 not classiZed as a dwelling unit and not exceeding 1,000

square feet in gross [oor area located at least 50 feet from applicable building.

 3. Detached noncombustible motor vehicle fuel dispensing canopies.

 4. Detached Group U Occupancies not greater than 1,000 square feet.

 5. Special occupancy aircraft hangar shade structures as approved by the Zre code o\cial, unless

required in NFPA 409.

Section 903.2.1 is amended to read as follows:

 903.2.1 Group A. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings containing a

Group A occupancy.

903.2.1.1 through 903.2.1.5.

Sections 903.2.1.1 through 903.2.1.5 are deleted.

Section 903.2.1.6 is amended to read as follows, with deletion of the exception:

 903.2.1.6 Assembly occupancies on roofs. Where an occupied roof has an assembly occupancy an

automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout the building in accordance with Section

 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.

903.2.1.7 Multiple Kre areas.

Section 903.2.1.7 is deleted.

Section 903.2.2 is amended to read as follows:

     The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 17 Building and Construction | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 8 of 170

 903.2.2 Group B. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings containing a

Group B occupancy where the gross [oor area exceeds 500 square feet or as required by section

 903.2.2.2.

 903.2.2.1 Ambulatory care facilities. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout

 buildings containing an ambulatory care facility.

Section 903.2.3 is amended to read as follows:

 903.2.3 Group E. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings containing

Group E occupancies. For public school State-funded construction projects or for public school

campuses, kindergarten through 12th grade, see Section 903.2.19 through 903.2.20.

Section 903.2.4 is amended to read as follows:

 903.2.4 Group F. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings containing a

Group F occupancy.

903.2.4.1 Woodworking operations.

Section 903.2.4.1 is deleted.

Section 903.2.5.1 is amended to read as follows:

 903.2.5.1 Group H. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout buildings containing

Group H occupancies.

903.2.6.1 Group I-2.

Section 903.2.6.1 is deleted.

903.2.6.2 Group I-3.

Section 903.2.6.2 is amended to read as follows:

 903.2.6.2 Group I-3. Every building where inmates or persons are in custody or restrained shall be

protected by an automatic sprinkler system conforming to NFPA 13. The main sprinkler control valve or

 valves and all other control valves in the system shall be locked in the open position and electronically

supervised so that at least an audible and visible alarm will sound at a constantly attended location when

     The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 17 Building and Construction | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 9 of 170

 valves are closed. The sprinkler branch piping serving cells may be embedded in the concrete

 construction.

Section 903.2.7 is amended to read as follows:

 903.2.7 Group M. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings containing a

Group M occupancy where the gross [oor area exceeds 500 square feet.

Section 903.2.8.1 is amended to read as follows:

 903.2.8.1 Group R-3. An automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3 shall

be permitted in Group R-3 occupancies and shall be provided throughout all one- and two-family

 dwellings regardless of square footage in accordance with the California Residential Code. An automatic

 sprinkler system shall be installed in all mobile homes, manufactured homes and multi-family

manufactured homes with two or more dwelling units in accordance with Title 25 of the California Code

 of Regulations.

Section 903.2.9 is amended to read as follows:

 903.2.9 Group S. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings containing a

Group S occupancy.

903.2.9.1 through 903.2.9.4.

Sections 903.2.9.1 through 903.2.9.4 are deleted.

903.2.10 Group S-2 Parking Garages.

Sections 903.2.10 through 903.2.10.2 is deleted.

Section 903.2.11 is amended to read as follows:

903.2.11 SpeciKc buildings areas and hazards. In all occupancies other than detached Group U

occupancies not greater than 1,000 square feet, an automatic sprinkler system shall be installed for

 building design or hazard in the locations set forth in Sections 903.2.11.1 through 903.2.11.6.

903.2.11.3 exception deleted.

Section 903.2.11.3 exception is deleted.

     The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 17 Building and Construction | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 10 of 170

Section 903.2.11.7 is added to read as follows:

 903.2.11.7 High-piled storage. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings

 containing high-pile combustible storage.

Section 903.2.11.8 is added to read as follows:

 903.2.11.8 Undetermined use design. Automatic sprinkler systems installed in buildings or structures

 of undetermined use shall be designed and installed to have a minimum density of .33 gallons per

minute per square foot over a minimum design area of 2,000 square feet.

Section 903.2.18 is amended to read with the exception being deleted:

903.2.18 Group U private garages and carports accessory to Group R-3 occupancies. Carports with

 habitable space above and attached garages, accessory to Group R-3 occupancies, shall be protected by

 residential Zre sprinklers in accordance with this section. Residential Zre sprinklers shall be connected to,

and installed in accordance with, an automatic residential Zre sprinkler system that complies with R313

 of The California Residential Code or with NFPA 13D. Fire sprinklers shall be residential sprinklers or
quick-response sprinklers, designed to provide a minimum density of 0.05 gpm/ft2 over the most

 hydraulically demanding area of the structure, but not to exceed two sprinklers for hydraulic calculations

purposes. Garage doors shall not be considered obstructions with respect to sprinkler placement.

Section 903.3 is amended as follows:

903.3 Installation Requirements. Sprinkler systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with

NFPA 13, NFPA 13R (if approved by the Fire Code O\cial) and NFPA 13D. Pursuant to Section 102.7.1 and

Section 105.1.4, the Fire Code O\cial may require additional sprinkler coverage to mitigate certain

 conditions such as access or water supply issues.

Section 903.3.1 is amended to read:

 903.3.1 Standards. Fire sprinkler systems installed in buildings of undetermined use shall be designed

and installed to have a design density of .33 gallons per minute per square foot over a minimum design

area of three thousand square feet (3,000' sq.). Where a subsequent occupancy change requires a

system with greater capacity, it shall be the building owners’ responsibility to upgrade the system to the

required density and meet any additional requirements of the Fire Code at the time of such change.

Section 903.3.7 is amended to read as follows:

     The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 17 Building and Construction | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 11 of 170

 903.3.7 Fire Department Connections. The location of Zre department connections (FDCs) shall be

 within Zfty feet (50') of a Zre hydrant or as approved by the Fire Code O\cial. Approved locking caps

 shall be provided on any existing FDCs found to be vandalized and on new FDCs when determined by the

 Fire Code O\cial to be necessary because of site speciZc conditions or hazards.

Section 903.3.9 is amended to read as follows:

 903.3.9 High-rise building Loor control valves. Floor control valve and water[ow detection assemblies

 shall be installed at each [oor where any of the following occur:

 1. Buildings where the [oor level of the highest story is located more than 30 feet above the lowest level

 of Zre department access.

 2. Buildings that are three or more stories in height.

 3. Buildings that are two or more stories below the highest level of Zre department access.

Exception: Group R-3 and R-3.1 occupancies [oor control valves and water[ow detection assemblies

 shall not be required.

Section 903.4 is amended to read as follows:

903.4 Sprinkler system supervision and alarms. Except for Group R, Division 3 Occupancies, all valves

 controlling the water supply for automatic sprinkler systems, pumps, tanks, water levels, temperatures,

  critical air pressure and water [ow switches shall be electronically supervised. Valves when used for

standpipes are excluded from this provision unless required by the Fire Code O\cial.

Section 903.4.2 is amended to read as follows:

 903.4.2 Monitoring. One (1) exterior approved audible device shall be connected to every automatic Zre

 sprinkler system in an approved location. The Fire Code O\cial may require one (1) exterior audible and

 visual device connected to an automatic Zre sprinkler system in an approved location based on site

 speciZc conditions. Such sprinkler water [ow alarm devices shall be activated by water [ow equivalent to

the [ow of a single sprinkler of the smallest oriZce size installed in the system. Where a building Zre

alarm system is installed, actuation of the automatic Zre sprinkler system shall actuate the building Zre

alarm system.

Section 903.6 is amended to read as follows:

     The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 17 Building and Construction | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 12 of 170

903.6 Where required in existing buildings and structures. An automatic sprinkler system shall be

provided throughout existing buildings and structures where required in Chapter 11 and as required in

 this section.

Exception: Alterations made solely for the purpose of providing barrier removal pursuant to the

requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as contained in exception #4 of Section CBC

 11B-202.4.

Sections 903.6.1 through 903.6.5 are added to read as follows:

Note: The December 31, 2029, compliance date was adjusted to allow additional time for regulatory adherence due to

the impacts of COVID-19.

 903.6.1 Buildings that undergo a substantial remodel. Building that qualify as a substantial remodel

as deZned by section 202 of this code, must install automatic sprinklers according to the policy on Zle

and available through the City of Petaluma Fire Prevention Bureau.

 903.6.2 Changes of Occupancy. When any change of occupancy occurs where the proposed new

occupancy classiZcation is more hazardous based on Zre and life safety risks as determined by the Fire

Code O\cial including, but not limited to, the conversion of residential buildings to condominiums, the

 building shall meet the Zre sprinkler requirements for a newly constructed building.

 903.6.3 Residential Conversions. Fire sprinkler systems shall be installed in all single-family dwellings

 that are converted to duplexes and/or multi-family dwellings, bed and breakfasts, inns, lodging houses

or similar uses. Fire sprinkler systems shall be installed in all conversions of a detached garage into living

space or sleeping space.

 903.6.4 Elevation of Existing Buildings. An automatic Zre extinguishing system shall be installed

throughout all existing buildings when the building is elevated to three (3) or more stories or more than

 thirty-Zve feet (35') in height, from grade to the exposed roof.

Exceptions: An automatic Zre-extinguishing system need not be provided when the area above thirty-

Zve feet (35') is provided for aesthetic purposes only and is a non-habitable space.

 903.6.5 Installation of Automatic Fire Sprinklers in Pre-Existing Buildings (Historic Downtown

Business District).

       1. Geographic Boundary—Historic Downtown Business District: For the purposes of this section, the

      Historic Downtown Business District shall include all buildings located inside the geographic area

     generally formed by Kentucky Street to the west, Washington Street to the north, the Petaluma River

     to the east and B Street to the south. Also included in this section is 201 Washington Street (Phoenix

Theater) and 132 Keller Street, as more particularly described in Figure 1003.2.12.

     The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 17 Building and Construction | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 13 of 170

       2. Installation Requirements: An automatic sprinkler system conforming to the Standard for the

      Installation of Sprinkler Systems (NFPA 13) shall be installed in all existing buildings in the Historic

   Downtown Business District in accordance with the following criteria: