Suisun City Municipal Code Ch. 15.80 Fire Prevention

The Office of the fire marshal is hereby created in the City of Suisun City.

(Ord. No. 784, § 2, 7-6-2021)

A. "California Fire Code" means the current California Fire Code, Edition, as published by the California Building Standards Commission, as adopted in Section 15.04.030.

B. "Fire chief" has the same meaning as Section 15.04.020.H of this Code, and shall include his or her designee.

C. "Fire marshal" means the head of the fire prevention division, as may be determined by the fire chief.

D. "City manager" means the city manager or his or her designee.

E. "Fire Code" means the Fire Code of the city.

F. "Fire Code official" means the chief of the city's fire department only and shall not include his or her designee.

G. "Fire department" means the fire department of the city.

H. "Fire inspector" means a fire inspector employed or retained by the city.

I. "Fire prevention division" means the section of the fire department assigned to preform fire prevention tasks and duties.

(Ord. No. 784, § 2, 7-6-2021)

The fire marshal shall be in charge of the fire prevention division. The fire marshal shall be so assigned by and hold such office at the pleasure of the chief of the fire department.

(Ord. No. 784, § 2, 7-6-2021)

The fire marshal shall, under the direction of the chief, have control of all matters pertaining to the fire prevention division and fire life safety.

(Ord. No. 784, § 2, 7-6-2021)

The fire prevention division shall consist of the following persons:

A. The fire marshal, who shall be the chief fire prevention officer of the fire prevention division.

B. Additional officers, assistants, and employees as the city council shall provide.

(Ord. No. 784, § 2, 7-6-2021)

The function of this division shall be to administer and enforce the fire prevention and life safety provision of this chapter and shall include, but not limited to, the following:

A. To set forth and establish administrative guidelines and requirements, including the issuance of fire permits and citations.

B. To provide regulations governing general provisions for safety.

C. To establish safety regulations for special occupancy uses, special processes, special equipment, and other special subjects.

D. To reference nationally recognized standards that apply to the above subjects.

(Ord. No. 784, § 2, 7-6-2021)

Any city official or employee charged with the enforcement of this Code, while acting for the jurisdiction, in good faith and without malice in the discharge of the duties required by the Fire Code or other pertinent law or ordinance, shall not thereby be rendered civilly or criminally liable personally, and is hereby relieved from all personal liability for any damage accruing to persons or property as a result of an act or by reason of an act or omission in the discharge of official duties. This section is not intended to limit any of the immunities provided by the Tort Claims Act.

(Ord. No. 784, § 2, 7-6-2021)

A. The fire chief shall have the authority to issue written orders to correct or eliminate a fire hazard or life hazard, hold hearings and modify, vacate, or affirm those orders.

B. The fire chief shall have the authority to make and enforce such rules and regulations of general application for the purpose of prevention and control of fires and fire or explosion hazards as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this article. Such rules and regulations shall be enforceable upon publication on the city's website or equivalent location that is easily accessible by the public, and must be ratified by the city council within 60 days of promulgation.

(Ord. No. 784, § 2, 7-6-2021)

The fire chief is authorized to establish a minimum inspection frequency for all occupancy groups where not already determined by the State of California Health and Safety Code.

(Ord. No. 784, § 2, 7-6-2021)

The Fire Code official shall be authorized to charge a fee for any fire inspections or existing sites, buildings, structures, and properties within the City of Suisun City. Fees for such services shall be in accordance with the master fee schedule.

(Ord. No. 784, § 2, 7-6-2021)

The Fire Code official is authorized to issue construction permits for work as set forth in Section 15.80.140. Permit fees shall be in accordance with the master fee schedule.

(Ord. No. 784, § 2, 7-6-2021)

A construction permit is required for installation of, or modification to, any automatic fire extinguishing system.

(Ord. No. 784, § 2, 7-6-2021)

The fire chief shall be responsible for enforcement of this chapter. Penalties for violating these provisions shall be as follows:

A. Any persons who violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of Sections 304.1, 304.2, 308, 311, 901.6, or Chapter 56 of the Fire Code, or any other sections of the Fire Code specifically identified as a misdemeanor, and may, for each and every such violation and/or noncompliance, be guilty of a misdemeanor, subject to the penalties as set forth in Section 1.08.020.

B. Any person who violates any other provision of the Fire Code, or the addition or amendments thereto, as contained in this chapter of this Code, shall, for each and every such violation and/or noncompliance, be guilty of an infraction and shall be subject to the penalties as set forth in Section 1.08.030.

C. Any person who violates or fails to comply with any order made pursuant to this chapter, or who violates or fails to comply with any certificate or permit issued or modified by the fire chief within the time affixed herein, may be subject to civil penalties pursuant to Chapters 1.16 (Administrative Compliance Orders) or 1.20 (Administrative Citations).

D. The conviction of or imposition of a penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit such violation to continue; the person so convicted or penalized shall correct or remedy such violations within a reasonable time. Each day that a prohibited condition is maintained or allowed to continue un-remedied shall constitute a separate offense.

E. Nothing herein shall limit the city's or fire chief's authority to abate or punish any violation of this chapter pursuant to any and all remedies available at law or equity.

(Ord. No. 784, § 2, 7-6-2021)

The city council hereby designates the fire hazard severity zones as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code Section 51178. The map, dated February 24, 2025 and approved by the city council, is hereby incorporated by reference, and entitled "Suisun City Fire Hazard Severity Zones." The official map is also located electronically on the following website: https://www.suisun.com/Departments/Fire-Department/Prevention-Division/Fire-Hazard-Severity-Zones-Local-Responsibility-Area.

(Ord. No. 818, § 1, 5-20-2025)