Santa Cruz County Municipal Code § 112.4 Fire Code

The filing of a properly completed notice of appeal shall have the effect of staying the implementation of the order appealed from, until the final decision of appeal.

Exception: Orders affecting acts or conditions which in the opinion of the fire code official, pose an immediate threat to life, property, or the environment as a result of panic, fire, explosion, or release.

Following is the process for establishing and hearing appeals:

1. The Board of Appeals, or the secretary thereof, shall set the matter to be heard at a date within thirty days of receipt of such notice of appeal. Written notice of the time and place set for hearing shall be served on the appellant by first class mail to the mailing address given in the notice of appeal at least five days prior to the date set for the hearing. The fire code official shall transmit to the Board of Appeals all records related to the appeal.

2. At the hearing on the appeal, the appellant shall, in the first instance present evidence in support of the grounds enumerated in their notice of appeal. The fire code official shall next present evidence in support of their order. The appellant and the fire code official shall each have one opportunity to rebut the evidence presented by the other. The hearing shall be de novo in all respects.

The Board of Appeals shall have the power to continue any hearing and may, in its discretion, take the appeal under submission. The Board of Appeals shall render a decision not later than the seventh day following the date the matter was taken under submission, and forthwith notify the interested parties as previously set forth.

(Formerly 7.92.111.1; Ord. 5319 § 2, 2019; Ord. 5415 § 1, 2022; Ord. 5503, 12/9/2025)