Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code Ch. 8.08 Fire Code

Except as hereinafter provided, title 32, Fire Code, of the Los Angeles County Code, as amended and in effect on January 2, 2025, adopting the California Fire Code, 2025 Edition (California Code of Regulations title 24, part 9), is hereby incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein, and shall be known and may be cited as the fire code of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. In the event of any conflict between provisions of the California Fire Code, 2025 Edition, title 32 of the Los Angeles County Code, or any amendment to the fire code contained in the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code, the provision contained in the latter listed document shall control. A copy of title 32 of the Los Angeles County Code and the California Fire Code, 2025 Edition, has been deposited in the office of the city clerk and shall be at all times maintained by the city clerk for use and examination by the public.

(Code 1981, § 8.08.010; Ord. No. 558, § 1, 9-2-2014; Ord. No. 598, § 2, 9-19-2017; Ord. No. 669, § 9, 11-15-2022; Ord. No. 694, § 9, 11-18-2025)

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 8.08.010, section 101.1 is amended to read:

101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the fire code of the city, hereinafter referred to as "this code."

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 8.08.010, section 503.4.1 is amended to read:

503.4.1 Traffic calming devices. Traffic calming devices that alter city-owned streets and rights-of-way, including, but not limited to, speed bumps and speed humps, shall be prohibited, unless approved by the city council, after having received a recommendation from the fire code official. Traffic calming devices, including, but not limited to, speed bumps and speed humps, that are located on private streets or property shall be prohibited, unless approved by the fire code official.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 8.08.010, section 5608.1.2 is added to the fire code to read:

5608.1.2 Displays. Permits are required from the city to conduct a fireworks display. The city council shall have the power to adopt reasonable rules and regulations for the granting of permits for supervised public displays of fireworks by the municipality, fair associations, amusement parks or other organizations. Every such display shall be handled by a competent operator approved by the city council, and shall be of such character and so located, discharged or fired as in the opinion of the city council after proper investigation, so as not to be hazardous to property or endanger any person.

Applications for permits shall be made in writing to the fire chief not less than 30 days in advance of the date of display or other use. The fire chief shall within ten days after receipt of said application make a report and recommendation to the city council. If the city council finds that such display can be made without danger or nuisance to the general public, it shall grant the permit; otherwise, it shall deny it. If the city council finds that such display as applied for may create danger or nuisance to the public, but that if displayed subject to conditions may not create such danger or nuisance, it shall grant the permit subject to conditions. After such permit is granted, sale, possession, use and distribution of fireworks for such display subject to the conditions of this chapter and such other conditions, if any, as may be imposed by the city council, is lawful for the purpose only for which such permit is granted. In all cases the decision of the city council shall be final.

D. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 8.08.010, section 5608.1.3 is added to read:

5608.1.3 Insurance. The permittee shall furnish a certificate of insurance in an amount deemed adequate by the city council for the payment of all damages which may be caused either to a person or persons or to property by reason of the permitted display, and arising from any acts of the permittee, their agents, employees or subcontractors.

The policy shall provide limits of bodily injury and property damage liability of not less than $2,000,000.00 combined single limits for each occurrence annually. The policy may have a deductible not to exceed $15,000.00. A deductible in excess of $15,000.00 may be permitted provided a security deposit, such as, but not limited to, a surety bond, pledge of assets or bank letter of credit covering the value of the excess is approved by the city council.

The certificate of insurance shall provide that the insurer will not cancel the insured's coverage without 15 days' prior written notice to the city, that the city shall not be responsible for any premium or assessments on the policy, and that the duly licensed pyrotechnic operator required by law to supervise and discharge the display, acting either as an employee of the insured or as an independent contractor and the city, its officers, agents, and employees are included as additional insureds, insofar as any operations under this section are concerned.

(Code 1981, § 8.08.020; Ord. No. 558, § 1, 9-2-2014)

A. Every person violating any provision of the fire code or of any permit or license granted hereunder, or any rule, regulation or policy promulgated pursuant hereto, is guilty of a misdemeanor unless such violation is otherwise declared to be an infraction by section 8.08.050 (List of infractions). Each such violation is a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which such violation is committed.

B. Every violation determined to be a misdemeanor hereunder is punishable in such manner and to such extent as is provided by section 1.08.010(A). Every violation determined to be an infraction hereunder is punishable in such manner and to such extent as is provided by section 1.08.010(B).

C. For the purposes of this section, a forfeiture of bail shall be equivalent to a conviction.

(Code 1981, § 8.08.030; Ord. No. 558, § 1, 9-2-2014)

Any person who personally or through another willfully, negligently, or in violation of law sets a fire, allows a fire to be set, or allows a fire kindled or attended by such person to escape from their control, allows any hazardous material to be handled, stored or transported in a manner not in accordance with nationally recognized standards, allows any hazardous material to escape from their control, neglects to properly comply with any written notice of the chief, or willfully or negligently allows the continuation of a violation of the fire code and amendments thereto is liable for the expense of fighting the fire or for the expense incurred during a hazardous materials incident, and such expense shall be a charge against that person. Such charge shall constitute a debt of such person and is collectible by the public agency incurring such expense in the same manner as in the case of an obligation under a contract, expressed or implied.

(Code 1981, § 8.08.040; Ord. No. 558, § 1, 9-2-2014)

In accordance with section 8.08.030 (Violations; penalties), the violation of the following sections or subsections of the fire code shall be infractions:

(Code 1981, § 8.08.050; Ord. No. 558, § 1, 9-2-2014)

The city council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes hereby designates very high, high, and moderate fire hazard severity zones, as recommended by the office of the state fire marshal (OSFM), Director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the County of Los Angeles Fire Department, as designated on the maps entitled fire hazard severity zone, which are on file in the city clerk's office.

(Ord. No. 691, § 4, 7-1-2025)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 691, § 4, adopted July 1, 2025, repealed the former § 8.08.060, and enacted a new § 8.08.060 as set out herein. The former § 8.08.060 pertained to very high fire hazard severity zone map and derived from Code 1981, § 8.08.060, adopted 1981; Ord. No. 558, § 1, adopted September 2, 2014.