Article 16-20
Saratoga Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-07 · Saratoga
FIRE CODE*
Sections:
16-20.010 Adoption of the 2025 California Fire Code and 2024 International Fire Code.
16-20.020 Fire Department and Chief. 16-20.050 Amendments to Chapter 1, Division II of the Fire Code; Administration.
16-20.060 Amendments to Chapter 2 of the Fire Code; Definitions.
16-20.090 Amendments to Chapter 5 of the Fire Code; Fire Service Features.
16-20.105 Amendments to Chapter 7 of the Fire Code; Fire and Smoke Protection Features.
16-20.120 Amendments to Chapter 9 of the Fire Code; Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems.
16-20.125 Amendments to Chapter 12 of the Fire Code; Energy systems.
16-20.140 Amendments to Chapter 33 of the Fire Code; Fire Safety During Construction and Demolition.
16-20.150 Amendments to Chapter 41 of the Fire Code; Temporary Heating and Cooking Operations.
16-20.160 Amendments to Chapter 50 of the Fire Code; Hazardous Provisions.
16-20.165 Amendments to Chapter 54 of the Fire Code; Corrosive Materials.
16-20.170 Amendments to Chapter 56 of the Fire Code; Explosives and Fireworks.
16-20.180 Amendments to Chapter 57 of the Fire Code; Flammable and Combustible Liquids.
16-20.190 Amendments to Chapter 58 of the Fire Code; Flammable Gases and Flammable Cryogenic Fluids.
16-20.195 Amendments to Chapter 60 of the Fire Code; Highly Toxic and Toxic Materials.
*Editor’s note— Ord. No. 414, § 2(App. A), adopted November 5, 2025, repealed the former Article 16-20, §§ 16-20.010—16-20.220, and enacted a new Article 16-20 as set out herein. The former Article 16-20 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 395, § 2(App. A), adopted December 7, 2022.
16-20.200 Amendments to Chapter 61 of the Fire Code; Liquified Petroleum Gases.
16-20.210 Amendments to Chapter 64 of Fire Code; Pyrophoric Materials.
16-20.010 Adoption of the 2025 California Fire Code and 2024 International Fire Code. ¶
(a) The 2025 California Fire Code based on the 2024 International Fire Code, including Appendix Chapters B, C, D and P are referred to and, except as to additions, deletions and amendments hereinafter noted, are adopted and made a part hereof, the same as if fully set forth in this Article. The California Fire Code and the International Fire Code as adopted herein are hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Fire Code." However, in accordance with California Government Code Section 50222.4, no penalty clauses are adopted by reference. In accordance with California Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7, express findings that modifications to the California Building Standards Code are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological or topographical conditions are either already on file with the California Building Standards Commission or will be filed prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this Article.
(b) In accordance with California Government Code Section 50022.6, at least one true copy of the Fire Code has been on file with the City Clerk for fifteen days prior to enactment of the ordinance codified in this Article. While the ordinance codified in this Article is in force, a true copy of the Fire Code shall be kept for public inspection in the office of the City Building Official and the Chief.
(Ord. No. 414, § 2(App. A), 11-5-2025)
16-20.020 Fire Department and Chief. ¶
Fire protection is provided in the City of Saratoga by the Santa Clara County Fire Department and the Saratoga Fire District. As used in the Fire Code, "Fire Department" refers to the Fire Department that provides fire protection to the relevant location, and "Chief" or "Fire Code Official" refers to the Chief of that Fire Department.
(Ord. No. 414, § 2(App. A), 11-5-2025)
(Saratoga Supp. No. 57, 1-26)
405
16-20.050
16-20.050 Amendments to Chapter 1, Division II of the Fire Code; Administration. ¶
TABLE 105.5.9 PERMIT AMOUNTS FOR COMPRESSED GASES
| AMOUNT | |
| TYPE OF GAS | (cubic feet at NTP) |
| Carbon dioxide used in carbon dioxide enrichment sys- | 875 (100lb) |
| tems | |
| Carbon dioxide used in insulated liquid carbon dioxide | 875 (100 lb) |
| beverage dispensingapplications | |
| Corrosive | 200 |
| Flammable (except cryogenic fluids and liquefied petro- | 200 |
| leumgases) | |
| Highlytoxic Moderatelytoxic Other Health Hazard Materials Inert and simple asphyxiant Oxidizing (includingoxygen) Pyrophoric Toxic |
AnyAmount AnyAmount AnyAmount 6,000 504 AnyAmount AnyAmount |
Table 105.5.22 is amended to read as follows:
TABLE 105.5.22 PERMIT AMOUNTS FOR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
| TYPE OF MATERIAL | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Combustible liquids Corrosive materials |
See Section 105.5.18 |
| Gases | See Section 105.5.9 |
| Liquids Solids Explosive materials Flammable materials |
55gallons 500pounds See Section 105.5.16 |
| Gases | See Section 105.5.9 |
| Liquids Solids Highlytoxic materials Gases |
See Section 105.5.18 100pounds See Section 105.5.9 |
| Liquids Solids Moderatelytoxic materials Gases |
AnyAmount AnyAmount See Section 105.5.9 |
| Other health hazard materials | |
| Gases | See Section 105.5.9 |
| Liquids Solids Oxidizingmaterials Gases |
55gallons 500pounds See Section 105.5.9 |
(Saratoga Supp. No. 57, 1-26)
406
16-20.050
| TYPE OF MATERIAL | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Liquids Class 4 Class 3 Class 2 Class 1 Solids Class 4 Class 3 Class 2 Class 1 Organicperoxides Liquids Class I Class II Class III Class IV Class V Solids |
AnyAmount 1gallona 10gallons 55gallons AnyAmount 10poundsb 100pounds 500pounds AnyAmount AnyAmount 1gallon 2gallons No Permit Required |
| Class I Class II Class III Class IV Class V Pyrophoric materials Gases Liquids Solids Toxic materials |
AnyAmount AnyAmount 10pounds 20pounds No Permit Required AnyAmount AnyAmount AnyAmount |
| Gases | See Section 105.5.9 |
| Liquids Solids Unstable(reactive)materials Liquids Class 4 Class 3 Class 2 Class 1 Solids |
10gallons 100pounds AnyAmount AnyAmount 5gallons 10gallons |
| Class 4 Class 3 Class 2 Class 1 Water-reactive materials |
AnyAmount AnyAmount 50pounds 100pounds |
| Liquids Class 3 Class 2 Class 1 Solids |
AnyAmount 5gallons 55gallons |
| Class 3 Class 2 |
AnyAmount 50pounds |
(Saratoga Supp. No. 57, 1-26)
407
16-20.050
| TYPE OF MATERIAL | AMOUNT | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 500pounds |
For SI: 1 gallon = 3.785 L, 1 pound = 0.454 kg.
a. 22 gallons when Table 5003.1.1(1) Note k applies and hazard identification signs in accordance with Section 5003.5 are provided for quantities of 22 gallons or less.
b. 220 pounds when Table 5003.1.1(1) Note k applies and hazard identification signs in accordance with Section 5003.5 are provided for quantities of 220 pounds or less. Section 105.56.60 is added to read as follows:
105.56.60 Institutions. An operational permit is required to operate any health facility as defined in Section 1250 of the California Health and Safety Code, with an occupant load of more than six (6) persons, or to operate any jail or facility where personal liberties of the occupants are restrained. See California Code of Regulations Title 24 Part 2.
Section 105.56.61 is added to read as follows:
105.56.61 Residential care facility. An operational permit is required to operate any residential care or service facility, as described in the California Building Code, accommodating more than six (6) persons.
Section 105.6.4 is amended to read as follows:
105.6.4 Cryogenic fluids. A construction permit is required for installation of or alteration to cryogenic fluid storage systems where the system capacity exceeds the amounts listed in Table 105.5.11. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered to be an alteration and does not require a construction permit.
Section 108.2.1 is added to read as follows:
108.2.1 Construction permit fees. Construction permit fees and plan review fees for fire hydrant systems, fire extinguishing systems and fire alarm systems shall be paid to the Santa Clara County Fire Department in accordance with the following table based on valuation. The valuation shall be limited to the value of the system for which the permit is being issued. Plan review fees are 65% of the Permit Fee amount. For the purposes of determining the total fee amount for each permit, the plan review fee shall be added to the Permit Fee.
| TOTAL | |
| VALUATIONS | PERMIT FEE |
| $1.00 TO$500.00 $501.00 TO $2,000.00 |
$23.50 $23.50 for the first $500.00 plus $3.05 for each additional |
| $100.00,or fraction thereof,to and including $2,000.00 | |
| $2001.00 TO $25,000.00 | $69.25 for the first $2,000.00 plus $14.00 for each additional |
| $1,000.00 or fraction thereof,to and including $25,000.00 | |
| $25,001.00 TO $50,000.00 | $391.25 for the first $25,000.00 plus $4.00 for each additional |
| $1,000.00,or fraction thereof,to and including $50,000.00 | |
| $50,001.00 TO $100,000.00 | $630.15 for the first $50,000.00 plus $13.60 for each additional |
| $1,000.00,or fraction thereof,to and including $100,000.00 | |
| $100,001.00 to $500,000.00 | $986.75 for the first $100,000.00 plus $7.00 for each additional |
| $1,000.00,or fraction thereof,to and including $500,000.00 | |
| $500,001 to $1,000,000.00 | $3,228.15 for the first $500,000.00 plus $5.35 for each addi- |
| tional $1,000.00, or fraction thereof, to and including | |
| $1,000,000.00 | |
| $1,000,001 and up | $5,604.00 for the first $1,000,000.00 plus $4.75 for each addi- |
| tional$1,000.00,or fraction thereof | |
| Additional re-inspections, in connection with the permits above, are to be paid at $120.00 for each occurrence at | |
| the discretion of the fire code official. |
Cancelled inspections without advance notice are to be paid at $120.00 for each occurrence.
408
(Saratoga Supp. No. 57, 1-26)
16-20.050
Section 108.2.2 is added to read as follows:
108.2.2 Operational permit fees. Operational permit fees shall be paid to the Santa Clara County Fire Department as follows:
| FACILITY TYPE | PERMIT FEE | PERMIT FEE | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Institutional | |||||
| A. More than 6persons B. Over 50persons 2. DayCare Facilities More than 6 clients 3. Places of Assembly A. 50—300persons B. Over 300persons 4. Temporary Membrane |
Structures, Tents and Can- |
$75.00—Annually $100.00—Annually $35.00—Annually $50.00—Annually $85.00—Annually $85.00—Each occurrence |
|||
| opies (Only those requiring | permits in accordance with | ||||
| Section 105.6.43) |
Section 109.5 is added to read as follows:
109.5 Final Inspection. No final inspection as to all or any portion of a development shall be deemed completed until the installation of the required fire protection facilities and access ways have been completed and approved. No final certificate of occupancy may be granted until the Fire Department issues notice of final clearance of such fire protection facilities and access ways to the Building Department.
Section 113.4 is amended to read as follows:
113.4 Violation Penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the fire code official, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this code, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1000.00 dollars or by imprisonment not exceeding 365 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.
Section 113.5 is added to read as follows:
113.5 Abatement of Hazard.
(a) The maintenance of real property in violation of this code, or of any order of the Fire Department pursuant hereto, is declared to be a public nuisance and is subject to abatement in accordance with Article 3-15 of the Saratoga Municipal Code.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section, if real property is maintained in violation of this code or any order of the Fire Department pursuant hereto and such violation constitutes, in the opinion of the Fire Chief, a fire hazard of such a nature that immediate action is required to protect the public health, safety and welfare, the Fire Department may apply the emergency nuisance abatement procedure set forth in Article 3-20 of the Saratoga Municipal Code and take all necessary and immediate steps to abate the hazard without prior notice to the owner or occupant of the property. In such an event, the Fire Chief shall perform the duties of the City Manager as described in said Article 3-20.
ic health, safety and welfare, the Fire Department may apply the emergency nuisance abatement procedure set forth in Article 3-20 of the Saratoga Municipal Code and take all necessary and immediate steps to abate the hazard without prior notice to the owner or occupant of the property. In such an event, the Fire Chief shall perform the duties of the City Manager as described in said Article 3-20.
(c) The cost of any abatement may be collected through the levy of a special assessment in accordance with the applicable provisions of Article 3-15 or Article 3-20 of the Saratoga Municipal Code. Such procedure is not intended to be exclusive and the City or the Fire Department may simultaneously or successively, exercise any other rights and remedies provided by law.
(Ord. No. 414, § 2(App. A), 11-5-2025)
409
(Saratoga Supp. No. 57, 1-26)
16-20.060