Solana Beach Municipal Code Ch. 15.32 Fire Code

Sections:

The following matrix lists the corresponding amendments to this chapter, entitled “Fire Code”:

(Ord. 540 § 2, 2025; Ord. 527 § 2(B), 2022)

A. That a certain document, three copies of which are on file in the office of the city of Solana Beach fire department being marked and designated as the 2025 California Fire Code, including Appendix I as published by the International Code Council, be and is hereby adopted as the fire code of the city of Solana Beach, in the state of California, regulating and governing the safeguarding of life and property from fire and explosion hazards arising from the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices, and from conditions hazardous to life or property in the occupancy of buildings and premises erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, conversion, demolition, equipment use, and maintenance of buildings and structures, including that providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said fire code on file in the office of the city of Solana Beach fire department are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this chapter, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes, if any, prescribed in this chapter.

B. Sections of Chapter 1, Administration, are hereby revised in or added to the 2025 California Fire Code to read as follows:

Section 101.5 City of Solana Beach Validity

The City Council of the City of Solana Beach hereby declares that should any section, paragraph, sentence or word of this ordinance or of the code hereby adopted be declared for any reason to be invalid, it is the intent of the City Council of the City of Solana Beach that it would have passed all other portions of this ordinance independently of the elimination here from of any such portion as may be declared invalid.

Section 102.13 Repeal of Conflicting Ordinances, Resolutions or Motions

All former ordinances, resolutions or motions, or parts thereof, including Ordinance 506, which conflict or are inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance or of the Code or standards hereby adopted are hereby repealed.

Section 104.12.4 Response Map Updates

104.12.4 Response Map Updates. Any new development, project, or request for change of address which necessitates updating of emergency response maps by virtue of new structures, fire hydrants, roadways or similar features, shall be charged a reasonable fee for the updating of all response maps.

Section 112.4.2 Violation penalties

A. Any person, corporation, association or entity that violates the provisions of Sections 105, 106, 107, 109,110, 111 or 113 of the California Fire Code is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person, corporation, association or entity that violates any other provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor or infraction as determined under Chapter 1.16 SBMC. The penalty for violations shall be determined under Chapter 1.16 SBMC. Each day or portion thereof that a violation of this chapter exists shall constitute a separate violation. Each violation of this chapter, in addition to the offenses under this section, shall constitute a public nuisance.

B. The application of the above penalty shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions.

C. Section 112.4.1 of the 2025 California Fire Code shall remain in effect.

(Ord. 540 § 2, 2025; Ord. 527 § 2(B), 2022)

Chapter 2 Definitions – Certain definitions of Section 202 are hereby amended in or added to the 2025 California Fire Code to read as follows:

Section 202 General Definitions

Fire Hazard – is any condition or conduct which a) increases or may increase the threat of fire to a greater degree than customarily recognized as normal by persons in the public service regularly engaged in preventing, suppressing or extinguishing fire or b) may obstruct, delay, hinder or interfere with the operations of the fire department or egress of occupants in the event of fire.

Fireworks – is any combustible or explosive composition, or any substance or combination of substances, or device prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or an audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration or detonation, and shall include blank cartridges, toy pistols, toy cannons, toy canes, or toy guns in which explosives are used, firecrackers, torpedoes, sky-rockets, roman candles, Daygo bombs, sparklers, snap caps, poppers or other devices of like construction and any devices containing any explosive or flammable compound, or any tablet or other device containing any explosive substance, except that the term “fireworks” shall not include any auto flares, paper caps containing not in excess of an average of twenty-five hundredths of a grain of explosive content per cap and toy pistols, toy canes, toy guns or other devices for use of such caps, the sale and use of which shall be permitted at all times. “Fireworks” shall include snap caps and poppers, regardless of the amount of explosive content included in each device.

Hazardous Fire Area – Any geographic area mapped by the State or designated by the local jurisdiction as a moderate, high or very high fire hazard area, or which the FAHJ has determined is a hazardous fire area; the type and condition of vegetation, topography, weather, or structure density which may increase the possibility of the area being susceptible to wildfire.

Mid-Rise Building – A building four stories or more in height, but not exceeding 75 feet and not defined as a high-rise building by section 202 of the California Building Code. Measurements shall be made from the underside of the roof or floor above the topmost space that may be occupied to the lowest fire apparatus access road level. Nothing in section 324 shall imply or allow a building height in excess of current City of Solana Beach planning and zoning requirements.

Level – An area above or below grade including but not limited to: basements, garages, cellars, mezzanines, or similar uses.

Whenever the terms "This Code" and "2024 International Fire Code" are used they shall mean the 2025 California Fire Code as modified by the City of Solana Beach with the deletions, revisions and additions set forth in the amendments.

In addition to the definitions set forth in the California Fire Code as adopted by reference, wherever the following words or phrases are used in this chapter, they shall have the meanings established by this section:

A. “Jurisdiction” means the city of Solana Beach.

B. “Corporation counsel” means the city attorney of Solana Beach. (Ord. 540 § 2, 2025; Ord. 527 § 2(B), 2022)

That the geographic limits referred to in certain sections of the 2025 California Fire Code are hereby established and are to read as follows: