Earlier editions: 2026-09
Chapter 13 — SONOMA COUNTY FIRE SAFETY ORDINANCE›Article V — Fire Safe Standards.
Sonoma County Municipal Code § 13-52 Hydrants
Sonoma County Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Sonoma County
Cite as: Sonoma County Municipal Code § 13-52 · Text as of 2026-10-04
Sec. 13-50. - Intent.¶
This division establishes minimum emergency water supply requirements to ensure a supply of water to attack a fire or defend property from a fire.
(Ord. No. 6318, § I, 8-11-2020)
State Law reference— California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 1-5, SRA Fire Safe Regulations, 1275.00.
Sec. 13-50.1. - Application.¶
The provisions of this article shall apply in the tentative and parcel map process when new parcels are approved by the local jurisdiction having authority or when a building permit is applied for unless exempted per Section 13-25.
(Ord. No. 6318, § I, 8-11-2020)
State Law reference— California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 1-5, SRA Fire Safe Regulations, 1275.01
Sec. 13-51. - Emergency water supply.¶
(a) All buildings shall have a permanent emergency water supply approved by the county fire warden /fire marshal, which shall be installed, maintained and available for use as follows:
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (a)(3), where water is provided by a public water system, the permanent emergency water supply shall be installed and available for use prior to the completion of road construction;
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (a)(3), where water is provided by a water system other than a public water system, the permanent emergency water supply shall be installed and available for use prior to the commencement of construction of any permanent structure;
(3) When authorized by the county fire warden/fire marshal , an interim emergency water supply acceptable to the county fire warden/fire marshal may be substituted for the permanent emergency water supply provided the permanent emergency water supply is installed and available for use prior to issuance of an occupancy permit or final inspection;
(4) When authorized by the county fire warden/fire marshal and local fire chief, the emergency water supply requirements may be waived when sufficient evidence is proven the intent to Title 14 of the Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Article 4 - Emergency Water Standards have been met.
(b) If the water supply to the parcel is provided by a public or community water system (urban parcel — see definitions) the emergency water supply for residential buildings shall consist of a permanent hydrant located on the road within two hundred fifty feet (250') of the driveway or as provided in Appendix C of the California Fire Code measured from where the driveway intersects with the public or private road. Distance measurements shall be determined by hose lay along the road, not horizontal distance.
(c) If the water supply to the parcel is provided by a private water well (non-urban parcel - see definitions) an emergency water storage of not less than two thousand five hundred-gallon capacity shall be provided. A single two thousand five hundred-gallon tank may serve more than one building on the same parcel, provided all hydrants are located in accordance with Section 13-52. When multiple tanks are utilized to achieve the required volume of water, the connection between the tanks shall be an approved minimum four-inch (4") diameter water line.
(d) Water tanks for emergency water supply placed inside the minimum setback requirement of Section 13-55 shall be constructed of non-combustible material. A flammable vegetation clearance of not less than twenty feet (20') shall be maintained around all poly-plastic or similar water tanks.
(e) All permanent emergency water supplies for commercial buildings shall meet the requirements of the California Fire Code if the building is served by a public water system or NFPA 1142, "Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting" if the building is served by a water system other than a public water system.
(Ord. No. 6318, § I, 8-11-2020)
State Law reference— California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 1-5, SRA Fire Safe Regulations, 1275.02
Sec. 13-52. - Hydrants.¶
(a) All buildings shall be protected by hydrants. The location, number, and type of hydrants for any building shall be as required and approved by the county fire warden/fire marshal or the director of permit and resource management.
(b) All hydrants for non-urban parcels shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) Hydrant outlets shall be a minimum of eighteen inches (18") and a maximum of twenty-four inches (24") above grade, eight feet (8') from flammable vegetation, no closer than six feet (6') nor farther than twelve feet (12') from the edge of the road or driveway, and in a location where emergency fire equipment using it will not block the road. The hydrant serving any residential building shall be located at a turnout or turnaround, along the driveway to the building, or along the road that intersects with the driveway. The hydrant serving any residential building shall be connected to the emergency water supply by an approved minimum four inch (4") diameter water line.
(2) All hydrants shall be located between sixty feet (60') and one hundred fifty feet (150') from the residential building. The fire hydrant shall be installed so that a fire engine utilizing the hydrant may maintain a minimum distance of sixty feet (60') from the residential building. Distance measurements shall be determined by hose lay along a road or driveway, not horizontal distance.
Exceptions:
- The distance to the hydrant, on a non-urban parcel with exclusively residential buildings on it, may exceed one hundred fifty feet (150') by one hundred fifty feet (150') for each additional five hundred (500) gallons of water storage capacity up to a maximum of two thousand five hundred and fifty feet (2,550') from the residential building as allowed by Table 13-52a.
a. All hydrants shall have at least one (1) two and one-half-inch outlet with male National Hose Threads and a cap. On water systems of greater than ten thousand five hundred (10,500) gallons, there shall also be at least one (1) four and one-half-inch outlet with male National Hose Threads and a four and one-half-inch by two and one-half-inch reducer with a cap.
b. All hydrants shall be a wet barrel hydrant or a draft hydrant as required by the delivery system and shall have suitable crash protection. The maximum height differential between the water source and the draft hydrant outlet shall be ten feet (10'). Draft hydrants shall be supplied by six inch (6") minimum pipe size, and be equipped with a four and one-half-inch National Hose male thread fitting with a cap.
c. Crash protection shall be per California Fire Code, Chapter Three, Section 312.
- A public fire hydrant can be used for the emergency water supply as allowed by Table 13-52b, for non-urban parcels with exclusively residential buildings on them.
Table 13-52a 1 Distance to hydrants based on volume of storage
Distance is from structure to hydrant
Gallons of Storage/Distance to Hydrant
| 2,500/150' | 7,000/1,500' |
|---|---|
| 3,000/300' | 7,500/1,650' |
| 3,500/450' | 8,000/1,800' |
| 4,000/600' | 8,500/1,950' |
| 4,500/750' | 9,000/2,100' |
| 5,000/900' | 9,500/2,250' |
| 5,500/1,050' | 10,000/2,400' |
| 6,000/1,200' | 10,500/2,550' |
| 6,500/1,350' |
Note:
1 This table applies only to parcels that have exclusively residential buildings on them.
Table 13-52b (1) Exception to hydrant distance(2)
Distance is measured from driveway entrance to the public hydrant
| Road Distance | Flow Rate | Minimum Residual Pressure |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Mile | 500 GPM | 20 PSI |
| 1.5 Miles (3) | 1,000 GPM | 20 PSI |
| 1.75 Miles (3) | 1,500 GPM | 20 PSI |
| 2 Miles (3) | 2,000 GPM | 20 PSI |
| 3 Miles (3) | 2,500 GPM | 20 PSI |
Notes:
(1) This table applies only to parcels that have exclusively residential buildings on them.
(2) Distances within these ranges can be prorated based on volume of flow available.
(3) This distance can be used when a letter is on file from the local fire chief and the department has a minimum of one (1) 500-gpm water tender in inventory.
(Ord. No. 6318, § I, 8-11-2020)
State Law reference— California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 1-5, SRA Fire Safe Regulations, 1275.03
Sec. 13-53. - Signing of water sources.¶
Each hydrant or access to water for any residential or commercial building shall be identified as follows:
(a) If located along a driveway, a reflective blue marker, with a minimum dimension of three inches (3"), shall be located on the driveway address sign and mounted on a fire retardant post; or
(b) If located along a road either of the following is acceptable:
(1) A reflective blue marker, with a minimum dimension of three inches (3"), shall be mounted on a fire retardant post. The sign post shall be within three feet (3') of the hydrant, with the sign no less than three feet (3') nor greater than five feet (5') above ground, aimed toward headlights, in a horizontal position and visible from the driveway, or
(2) As specified in the State Fire Marshal's Guidelines for Fire Hydrant Markings Along State Highways and Freeways, May 1988.
(Ord. No. 6318, § I, 8-11-2020)
State Law reference— California Code of Regulations, Title 14 Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 1-5, SRA Fire Safe Regulations, 1275.04.
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