Chapter 15.08 — FIRE CODE

Sections:

• 15.08.010 County of Los Angeles Fire Code adopted.

• 15.08.020 Definitions.

• 15.08.030 Copies on file.

• 15.08.040 Conflicts with other code provisions.

• 15.08.050 Penalties.

• 15.08.060 Permit fees.

Except as provided in this chapter, the fire code known as the 2023 County of Los Angeles Fire Code, based on the 2022 California State Fire Code, and based on the 2021 International Fire Code, as published by the International Code Council, shall become the fire code of the city for purposes of prescribing regulations governing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion. (Ord. 2022-12-1542 § 4: Ord. 2020-10-1514 § 1 (part))

The definitions in this section shall supersede the definitions of the same words and phrases contained in Chapter 2 of the California Fire Code: A. "Administrator" means the administrator of the City of Signal Hill. B. "Building code" means Chapter 15.04 of the Signal Hill Municipal Code. C. "Building official" means the building official of the City of Signal Hill. D. "Chief of police" means the chief of police of the City of Signal Hill. E. "Electrical code" means Chapter 15.12 of the Signal Hill Municipal Code. F. "Governing body" means the city council of the City of Signal Hill. G. "Jurisdictional area" means that portion of the county which lies within the boundaries of the City of Signal Hill. H. "Municipality" or "city" means the City of Signal Hill. I. "Plumbing code" means Chapter 15.16 of the Signal Hill Municipal Code. J. "Mechanical code" means Chapter 15.20 of the Signal Hill Municipal Code. (Ord. 2020-10-1514 § 1 (part))

The city clerk shall cause to be filed in the clerk's office one copy of the County of Los Angeles Fire Code as amended to date and of each handbook, manual, pamphlet, circular or other document which is referred to in the County of Los Angeles Fire Code and incorporated therein by reference, and the clerk shall certify that each copy of the document so filed is a true copy of the document of which it purports to be a copy. These copies shall be maintained at all times by the clerk for use and examination by the public. (Ord. 2020-10-1514 § 1 (part))

Wherever the provisions of this chapter conflict with the provisions of Titles 9, 16 or 20, or other provisions of the Signal Hill Municipal Code, such other provisions of the Signal Hill Municipal Code shall govern and control. (Ord. 2020-10-1514 § 1 (part))

A. Persons who shall violate a provision of this Chapter 15.08, including any provisions of any code adopted by this chapter, 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 unless such violation is declared to be an infraction by Chapter 82 of the 2020 County of Los Angeles Fire Code, punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars for the first violation, two hundred dollars for the second, five hundred dollars for the third, and five hundred dollars for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one year. Each such violation is a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which such violation is committed or allowed to continue. For the purposes of this section, a forfeiture of bail shall be equivalent to a conviction. B. In addition to the imposition of penalties herein described, the fire code official is authorized to institute appropriate action to prevent unlawful construction or to restrain, correct, or abate a violation; or to prevent illegal occupancy of a structure or premises; or to stop an illegal act, conduct of business, or occupancy of a structure on or about any premises. The owner of any parcel upon which a nuisance is found to exist may, as provided for by state, county, and local law, be liable for all costs of abatement of the nuisance.

C. Any person: (1) who negligently, or in violation of the law, sets a fire, allows a fire to be set, or allows a fire kindled or attended by him to escape onto any public or private property; (2) other than a mortgagee, who, being in actual possession of a structure, fails or refuses to correct, within the time allotted for correction, despite having the right to do so, a fire hazard prohibited by law, for which a public agency properly has issued a notice of violation respecting the hazard; or (3) including a mortgagee, who, having an obligation under other provisions of law to correct a fire hazard prohibited by law, for which a public agency has properly issued a notice of violation respecting the hazard, fails or refuses to correct the hazard within the time allotted for correction, despite having the right to do so, is liable for the fire suppression costs incurred in fighting the fire, for the cost of providing rescue or emergency medical services, for the cost of investigating and making any reports with respect to the fire, and for the costs relating to accounting for that fire and the collection of any funds pursuant to state or local law, including but not limited to, administrative costs of operating a fire suppression cost recovery program to the fullest extent authorized by law. All of these costs shall be a charge against that person, shall constitute a debt of that person, and is collectible by the federal, state, county, public, or private agency, incurring those costs in the same manner as in the case of an obligation under a contract, expressed or implied. D. All expenses of an emergency response necessary to protect the public from a real and imminent threat to health and safety by a public agency to confine, prevent, or mitigate the release, escape, or burning of hazardous substances are a charge against any person whose negligence causes the incident to the fullest extent authorized by law, if either of the following occurs: 1. Evacuation beyond the property where the incident originates is necessary to prevent loss of life or injury. 2. The incident results in the spread of hazardous substances or fire posing a real and imminent threat to public health and safety beyond the property of origin. Expenses reimbursable to the county or fire district pursuant to this section are a debt of the person liable therefore, and shall be collectible in the same manner as in the case of an obligation under contract, express or implied. The charge created against the person related to hazardous substances by this section is also a charge against the person's employer if the negligence causing the incident occurs in the course of the person's employment. (Ord. 2020-10-1514 § 1 (part))

Fees relating to the fire code are determined by and collected by the County of Los Angeles Fire Department. The amount of permit fees is set forth in Appendix Q to the 2020 County of Los Angeles Fire Code. (Ord. 2020-10-1514 § 1 (part))