San Diego County Municipal Code § 403.2 Wildland-Urban Interface Area Requirements

(a) Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed improved width of not less than 24 feet, except as provided in section 403.2.1 for single-family residential driveways serving no more than two residential parcels, which shall have a minimum of 16 feet of unobstructed improved width. Any of the following, which have separated lanes of one-way traffic: gated entrances with card readers, guard stations or center medians, are allowed, provided that each lane is not less than 14 feet wide.

(b) Fire apparatus access roads that are public or private roads which are provided or improved as a result of a Tentative Map, Tentative Parcel Map or a Major/Minor Use Permit shall have the dimensions as set forth by the County of San Diego Standards for Public and Private Roads.

(c) All fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inches.

(d) Vertical clearances or road widths shall be increased when the fire code official determines that vertical clearances or road widths are not adequate to provide fire apparatus access.

(e) Vertical clearances or road width may be reduced when the fire code official determines the reduction does not impair access by fire apparatus. In cases where the vertical clearance has been reduced, approved signs shall be installed and maintained indicating the amount of vertical clearance.

(f) Driveways exceeding 150 feet in length, but less than 600 feet in length, shall provide a turnout near the midpoint of the driveway. Where the driveway exceeds 600 feet, turnouts shall be provided no more than 400 feet apart.

(g) For buildings that are more than 35 feet in height, a 35-foot unobstructed fire lane shall be provided. Unless otherwise approved by the fire code official. Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 35 feet when within laddering distance of buildings exceeding 35 feet in height. The access road shall be set back from buildings exceeding two stories in height such that the centerline of the fire access road shall be equal to 1/4 the difference in elevation from the fire access road to the roof. The building's curbside access roads serving buildings over two stories in height but less than 44 feet in height shall be permitted to be up to 10 feet away from the building.

ADDITION OF SECTION 403.2.1.1 Dimensions

The Rancho Santa Fe, Rincon Del Diablo, San Miguel and Valley Center Fire Protection Districts adopt the following code amendment:

(a) The fire apparatus access road requirement for widening an existing, improved and paved fire apparatus access roadway shall be as provided in Table 403.2.1.1. The fire apparatus access road shall be constructed to extend from the property line to the nearest public or private road. TABLE 403.2.1.1 –PHASING REQUIREMENT Fire Apparatus Access Roadway – Single Family Dwellings

The fire code official shall have the authority to require or permit modifications to the required access widths where they are inadequate for fire or rescue operations or where necessary to meet the public safety objectives of the jurisdiction.

Fire apparatus access roads shall be designed and maintained to support the imposed loads of fire apparatus (not less than 75,000 lbs. unless authorized by the fire code official) and shall be provided with an approved paved surface so as to provide all-weather driving capabilities. The paving and sub-base shall be installed to the standards specified in the County of San Diego Parking Design Manual. A residential driveway constructed of 3½" Portland cement concrete may be installed on any slope up to 20% provided that slopes over 15% have a deep broom finish perpendicular to the direction of travel to enhance traction. The fire code official may allow a surfacing material of 6 inches of compacted decomposed granite on fire apparatus access roads with a slope of 10% or less in areas allowed by the San Diego County Standards for Private Roads.

AMENDMENT TO SECTION 403.2.3

The Bonita-Sunnyside, Lakeside, Rancho Santa Fe, Rincon Del Diablo, San Miguel, Valley Center Fire Protection Districts adopt the following code amendment:

The horizontal inside radius of a fire apparatus access road shall comply with the County of San Diego Public and Private Road Standards. The horizontal inside radius of any public or private driveway shall be a minimum of 28 feet, as measured on the inside edge of the improvement width or as approved by the fire code official. The length of vertical curves of fire apparatus access roads shall not be less than 100 feet, or as approved by the fire code official.

Dead-end fire apparatus access roads in excess of 150 feet in length shall be provided with an approved area for turning around emergency apparatus.

A cul-de-sac or other approved turn-around shall be provided in residential areas where the fire apparatus access roads serve 3 or more parcels. The minimum unobstructed radius width for a cul-de-sac in a residential area shall be 36 feet paved, 40 feet graded, or as approved by the fire code official. The fire code official shall establish a policy identifying acceptable turnarounds for various project types. See Annex A & B for illustrations

The maximum length of a dead-end road, including all dead-end roads accessed from that dead-end road, shall not exceed the following cumulative lengths, regardless of the number of parcels served:

(Title 14 SRA 1273.08 Ref.)

All lengths shall be measured from the edge of the roadway surface at the intersection where the road begins to the end of the road surface at its farthest point. Where a dead-end road crosses areas of differing zoned parcel sizes, requiring different length limits, the shortest allowable length shall apply. Where parcels are zoned 5 acres or larger, turnarounds shall be provided at a maximum of 1,320 foot intervals. Each dead-end road shall have a turnaround approved by the fire code official and constructed at its terminus.

A turnaround shall be provided to all building sites on driveways over 150 feet in length and shall be within fifty (50) feet of the building.

Where a bridge or an elevated surface is part of a fire apparatus access road, the bridge shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with AASHTO HB-17. Bridges and elevated surfaces shall be designed for a live load sufficient to carry the imposed loads of fire apparatus. Vehicle load limits and clearance limitations shall be posted at both entrances to bridges where required by the fire code official. Where elevated surfaces designed for emergency vehicle use are adjacent to surfaces which are not designed for such use, approved barriers, approved signs or both shall be installed and maintained where required by the fire code official.

When approved by the fire code official, private bridges providing access to not more than two residential dwellings may have one 12-foot-wide travel lane and it shall provide for unobstructed visibility from one end to the other, and turnouts shall be provided at both ends.

The gradient for a fire apparatus access roadway shall not exceed 15.0%. The fire code official may allow roadway grades up to 20.0% provided that the roadway surface conforms to section 403.2.3. The fire code official may require additional mitigation measures.

Sec 403.2.7.1 Cross-Slope. The standard cross-slope shall be 2 percent; minimum cross-slope shall be 1 percent; maximum cross-slope shall be 5 percent.

The angles of approach and departure for fire apparatus access roads shall not exceed 7 degrees (12 %) for the first 30' or as approved by the fire code official and shall not allow for transitions between grades that exceed 6% elevation change along any 10-foot section.

When required by the fire code official, turnouts shall be a minimum of 12 feet wide and 30 feet long with a minimum 25-foot taper on each end. (Title 14 SRA 1273.06)

Exception: The minimum width of the turnout may be reduced to 10 feet wide when the fire code official determines the reduction does not impair access by fire apparatus.