West Covina Municipal Code Art. X Building Water Supply for Fire Protection

No new building or structure shall hereafter be erected, constructed or relocated upon any property within the city, unless there is, or is made available, a water system for fire protection as required by the Fire Code. When such a system is not immediately available, no building permit for construction shall be issued until arrangements have been made to secure installation of said required fire protection system. Surety of the installation shall be in the form of an agreement and cash or surety bond guaranteeing installation of necessary conduits, pipes, hydrants and other appurtenances required. The amount of such bond shall be determined by the city engineer.

(Code 1960, § 8200; Ord. No. 1383, § 12, 6-26-78)

When a person is required to install facilities which will also benefit property other than his own, the city or water purveyor may enter into a reimbursement agreement wherein the city or water purveyor may agree to reimburse such person as, if and when, and to the extent that it received payment hereunder from other property so benefitted, and may make such reimbursement in accordance with such agreement.

(Code 1960, § 8201; Ord. No. 1383, § 2, 6-26-78)

(a) Where fire protection facilities exist, by reason of a reimbursement agreement or by reason of construction by the city, and the benefitting lot or parcel has not been taxed or assessed for such facilities, or has not paid its just share of the costs of providing the facilities, the owner or applicant for a building permit for construction, addition or alteration work on said benefitting lot or parcel shall pay to the city the just share of the cost of facilities attributable to such lot or parcel under any such reimbursement agreement or contribution or payment by the city for such facilities.

(b) Exceptions to this section are as follows:

(1) This section shall not apply to additions made to a single family residence where the square foot area of such additions does not exceed fifty (50) percent of the area of the residential portion of the building existing prior to addition.

(2) This section shall not apply to alterations made to a single family residence when the value of the proposed alterations does not exceed fifty (50) percent of the value of the building being altered prior to its alteration.

(3) This section shall not apply to construction of or addition to garages, carports, storage buildings or similar nonresidential buildings accessory to a single family residence, when the construction or addition does not exceed five hundred (500) square feet in area.

(Code 1960, § 8202; Ord. No. 1383, § 2, 6-26-78)

In order to determine the application of this article the fire chief shall prepare a map or maps showing specifically any single family residential properties lacking necessary fire protection system. The map shall be delivered to the building and safety department for use in enforcement of this article. Any building permit issued contrary to the provisions of this article is hereby declared invalid and is automatically revoked.

(Code 1960, § 8203; Ord. No. 1383, § 2, 6-26-78)