Solana Beach Municipal Code Ch. 57 Flammable and Combustible Liquids

Section 5704.2.9.6.1 Location Where Above-ground Tanks are Prohibited:

In the City of Solana Beach, (geographic limits in which the storage of Class I and Class II liquids in above-ground tanks outside of buildings is prohibited): The limits referred to in Section 5704.2.9.6.1 and 5706.2.4.4 of the 2025 California Fire Code and the 2024 International Fire Code in which storage of flammable or combustible liquids in outside aboveground tanks is prohibited are hereby established as the jurisdictional limits of the City of Solana Beach.

1. EXCEPTIONS: 2,000 gallons maximum temporary (six months maximum) above ground tanks meeting UL 2085 for private use on farms, agricultural and rural property, remote construction sites, earth moving projects, gravel pits or borrow pits. Such tanks shall be specially designed, approved and listed, and have features incorporated into their design which mitigates concerns for exposure to heat (two-hour fire resistance), ignition sources and mechanical damage. A fire department permit will be required.

2. Crankcase draining may be stored in specially constructed above ground storage tanks, approved by the fire code official, with a maximum capacity of 550 gallons. Such tanks may be located within a building when the fire code official deems appropriate, and the container meets the following: specially designed, approved and listed containers which have features incorporated into their design which mitigates concerns for exposure to heat, ignition sources and mechanical damage.

3. Containers must be installed and used in accordance with their listing, and provisions must be made for leak and spill containment. In no case shall such storage be permitted in residential or institutional property. All installations require a fire department permit.

4. With the approval of the fire code official, Class I and II liquids may be stored aboveground tanks inside or outside of buildings in specially designed, approved and listed containers which have features incorporated into their design which mitigates concerns for exposure to heat, ignition sources and mechanical damage. Class I liquids will be limited to 550 gallons and class II liquids will be limited to 1,100 gallons. Containers must be installed and used in accordance with their listing, and provisions must be made for leak and spill containment. The fire code official may disapprove the installation of such containers when in his opinion their use presents a risk to life or property.

5. With the approval of the fire code official, temporary storage of a maximum 10,000 gallons of Class II liquids may be permitted for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days at remote construction sites, earth moving projects, gravel pits or borrow pits, consistent with 5704 and 5706.

Section 5706 Special Operations

Section 5706.2.4.4 Locations Where Above-ground Tanks are Prohibited

The storage of Class I and Class II liquids in above-ground tanks is prohibited in residential areas within the geographic limits of the City of Solana Beach.

Section 5706.4 Bulk Plants or Terminals

The geographic limits in which bulk plants and terminals of flammable and combustible liquids are received are prohibited for the protection of heavily populated and congested areas and are hereby established as jurisdiction limits of the City of Solana Beach.

Chapter 61 Liquefied Petroleum Gases

Section 6104.2 Maximum Capacity Within Established Limits

The geographic limits in which the bulk storage of liquefied petroleum gas is prohibited for the protection of heavily populated and congested areas is hereby established as jurisdiction limits of the City of Solana Beach. The aggregate capacity of any one installation shall not exceed a water capacity of 2,000 gallons.

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

Section 308.1.6.3 is revised in the 2025 California Fire Code to read as follows:

Section 324 is added to the 2025 California Fire Code to read as follows:

Section 324 Mid-Rise Buildings

Section 324.1 General

All newly constructed mid-rise buildings, or any midrise building which undergoes a complete structural or non-structural renovation that requires the complete vacancy of the building to complete the renovation shall comply with sections 324.1- 324.5.

Exceptions:

1. Buildings used exclusively as an open parking garage.

2. Buildings where all floors above the fourth-floor level are used exclusively as an open parking garage.

3. Buildings such as a power plant, lookout tower, steeple, grain house, or other similar structures with intermittent human occupancy.

Section 324.2 Fire Equipment Control Room

A fire equipment control room for fire department operations shall be provided. The location and accessibility of the room shall be approved by the fire code official and be separated from the remainder of the building by not less than a 1-hour barrier. The room shall contain the following at a minimum:

1. Voice alarm and public address panels.

2. Fire alarm control panel.

3. Status indicators and controls for air-handling systems.

4. Fire pump status indicators (if required).

5. ERRC – Emergency Responder Radio Communications

6. Work Table and Chairs

7. Set of complete building plans.

Section 324.3 Road Dimensions

Fire apparatus access roads serving buildings or portions of buildings or facilities that exceed 30 feet in height above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 26 feet.

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

Section 107.7 is added in the 2025 California Fire Code to read as follows:

SECTION 107.7 – FEES

When any construction project, building, manufacturing process, hazardous occupancy or such similar occurrence present demands on the fire protection service levels that are in excess of those already established and provided by the fire department, and cannot be mitigated by the installation of fire protection appliances or devices, then the owner and/or operator of that entity shall be responsible for costs associated with necessary training and equipment purchases that may be incurred by the fire department to provide an adequate and safe level of emergency response. This level of emergency response will be established by the Fire Chief.

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

Section 1154.1 is added in the 2025 California Fire Code to read as follows:

Where a fire has resulted from failure to comply with fire safety requirements after notice was given, the Fire Chief may recover costs relating to the response, suppression and overhaul of the fire from the responsible party.

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

Section 112.4 is added in the 2025 California Fire Code to read as follows:

When a person fails to comply with a second notice of correction, notice of violation, or notice to cure, the fire code official may impose a fee for the recovery of expenses incurred as a result of activities undertaken pursuant to enforcing the fire prevention provisions of this Code. The penalty for non-compliance shall be determined under Chapter 1.16 SBMC.

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

The following sections of Chapter 5 – Section 503, Fire Apparatus Access Roads of the 2025 California Fire Code shall be revised to read as follows: