West Sacramento Municipal Code Ch. 15.14 California Fire Code

The 2025 California Fire Code, Title 24, Part 9 of the California Code of Regulations, and Appendices Chapter 4, B, BB, C, CC, and D are hereby adopted by the City of West Sacramento and incorporated by this reference into the City of West Sacramento Municipal Code, as amended by this chapter.

(Ord. 22-20 § 3; Ord. 23-6, 3/15/2023; Ord. 25-10, 11/5/2025)

The Fire Code shall be enforced by the Community Risk Reduction Division of the City of West Sacramento Fire Department under the supervision of the Fire Marshal.

(Ord. 22-20 § 3; Ord. 23-6, 3/15/2023; Ord. 25-10, 11/5/2025)

The following definitions are exclusively applicable to Chapter 15.14:

A. Whenever the words "city," "jurisdiction" or "city or jurisdiction" are used in the California Fire Code, it shall mean the City of West Sacramento.

B. Whenever the term "chief appointing authority of the jurisdiction" is used in the California Fire Code, it shall mean the City Manager of the City of West Sacramento.

C. Whenever the term "legal representation of the jurisdiction" is used in the California Fire Code, it shall mean the City Attorney of the City of West Sacramento.

D. Whenever the term "fire department" is used in the California Fire Code, it shall mean the West Sacramento Fire Department.

E. Whenever the term "jurisdiction's keeper of records" is used in the California Fire Code, it shall mean the City Clerk of the City of West Sacramento.

F. Whenever the term "fire code official" is used in the California Fire Code, it shall mean the Fire Marshal of the City of West Sacramento.

G. Whenever the term "governing body" is used in the California Fire Code, it shall mean the City Council of the City of West Sacramento.

(Ord. 22-20 § 3; Ord. 23-6, 3/15/2023; Ord. 25-10, 11/5/2025)

A. Section 103.1 of Chapter 1 of the California Fire code is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 103.1 Creation of an agency.

The West Sacramento Fire Department Community Risk Reduction Division is hereby created and the official in charge thereof shall be known as the fire code official. The function of the agency shall be the implementation, administration and enforcement of the provisions of this code.

B. Section 113.4 of Chapter 1 of the California Fire Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 113.4 Violation penalties.

Violations of a provision of this code or the failure to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the fire code official, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this code, shall be a misdemeanor. Each day that prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense, except as waived by the fire code official. The imposition of any penalty shall not prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions or excuse the violation.

C. Section 202 of Chapter 2 of the California Fire Code is hereby amended to add and amend the following definitions:

AREA, RURAL. Are areas within the City of West Sacramento in which adequate and reliable water supply systems for firefighting purposes do not exist or any area beyond a five-minute emergency response time.

BUILDING. Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy, including manufactured homes, mobile homes, modulars, tiny homes, tiny homes on wheels, and other similar structures.

D. Section 503.2.3 of Chapter 5 of the California Fire Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 503.2.3 Surface.

Fire apparatus access roads shall be designed and maintained to support the imposed loads of fire apparatus, shall meet the minimum road specifications as set forth in the latest published edition of the City of West Sacramento Community Development Department Engineering Division Standard Specifications, and shall provide all weather driving capabilities.

E. Section 503.2.4 of Chapter 5 of the California Fire Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 503.2.4 Turning radius.

For all turns on public and private roads the minimum inside turning radius shall be 26 feet and the minimum outside turning radius shall be 46 feet.

F. Section 503.2.7 of Chapter 5 of the California Fire Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 503.2.7 Grade. The grade of a fire apparatus access road shall be a maximum of 12 percent.

G. Section 503.2.8 of Chapter 5 of the California Fire Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 503.2.8 Angles of approach and departure.

The first ten feet of approach and departure for fire apparatus access roads shall have a maximum grade of 8.5 percent.

H. Section 505.1.1 is hereby added to Chapter 5 of the California Fire Code to read as follows:

Section 505.1.1 Multiple tenant building identification. Required features:

1. Multiple tenant spaces serviced by vehicular access to the rear through any driveway, alleyway, or parking lot shall have approved address numbers, building numbers or approved building identification placed prior to occupancy on all new and existing buildings as to be plainly visible and legible from the rear access way when deemed necessary by the fire code official.

2. Multiple tenant spaces serviced by rear access through a corridor, exit court, or exit yard shall have approved address numbers, building numbers or approved building identification displayed on the rear of the tenant space, when deemed necessary by the fire code official.

3. Multiple tenant spaces that front on interior walkways or pedestrian malls shall have approved address numbers, building numbers or approved building identification placed over the entrance door in all new and existing buildings.

4. An illuminated directory board shall be required at every entrance when deemed necessary by the fire code official.

I. Section 505.1.2 is hereby added to Chapter 5 of the California Fire Code to read as follows:

Section 505.1.2 Illumination.

Addressing shall be illuminated at night in all new buildings. Signs shall be internally or externally illuminated. When the luminance or the face of a sign is from an external source, it shall have an intensity of not less than 5.0 foot-candles. Internally illuminated signs shall provide equivalent luminance.

J. Section 901.6.4 is hereby added to Chapter 9 of the California Fire Code to read as follows:

Section 901.6.4 Residential sprinkler system certification for home resale.

All residential occupancies up for resale and equipped with a NFPA 13D sprinkler system or sprinkler system meeting the requirements of the California Residential Code are required to be inspected by qualified personnel; and all necessary repairs shall be completed prior to the closing of escrow.

K. Section 903.2.22 is hereby added to Chapter 9 of the California Fire Code to read as follows:

Section 903.2.22 Additional automatic fire-extinguishing system requirements.

An approved automatic fire-extinguishing system shall be installed in every new building in which the total combined floor area of all floors, including mezzanine levels, exceeds 4,000 square feet (372 m2). Required features:

1. Notwithstanding other provisions of this Code, this rule shall be applied to alterations, additions, and changes of occupancy to all new buildings and buildings in existence as of the effective date of this ordinance.

2. An alteration involving no change in occupancy, use or character of a building in existence as of the effective date of this ordinance, and which does not require an increase in the floor area, total height or number of stories of such existing building, may be made without bringing the entire building into compliance with this section.

3. No change shall be made in the character or occupancy or use of any building or structure in existence as of the effective date of this ordinance unless the entire building or structure is made to comply with this section.

L. Section 903.2.22.1 is hereby added to Chapter 9 of the California Fire Code to read as follows:

Section 903.2.22.1 Conditions requiring automatic fire-extinguishing systems.

The following conditions will require an automatic sprinkler system to be installed in all occupancies:

1. Any structure or building that is more than two stories above grade plane or where access to the average height of the roof is more than 25 feet above grade for the purpose of fire department access.

2. A structure or building that is located on any property in which any portion of the structure or building is more than 400 feet from a fire hydrant or more than 350 feet from a fire hydrant because of a dead-end condition.

3. Any structure or building that is located on any property which any portion of the structure or building is located more than 150 feet from the nearest fire department access road.

Exceptions:

M. Section 5001.5.3 is hereby added to Chapter 50 of the California Fire Code to read as follows:

Section 5001.5.3 Hazardous materials inventory fee.

Permitted facilities in which hazardous materials are stored, used or handled are subject to the annual Hazardous Materials Storage Fee, as prescribed by resolution of the City Council.

N. Section 5003.1.5 is hereby added to Chapter 50 of the California Fire Code to read as follows:

Section 5003.1.5 Parking and garaging.

Vehicles containing hazardous materials in amounts that require placards under state or federal law and possessing the physical hazards listed in Section 5001.2.2 et seq. shall not be left unattended at any time on any residential street or within 500 feet of any residential area, apartment or hotel complex, educational, hospital or care facility; or at any place that would, in the opinion of the fire code official, present a life or safety hazard.

O. Section 5614 is hereby added to Chapter 56 of the California Fire Code to read as follows:

Section 5614 Prohibited and limited acts.

The storage of explosives and blasting agents is prohibited within the City of West Sacramento. This prohibition shall not apply to the temporary storage of explosives and blasting agents for use in connection with approved blasting operations, wholesale and retail stocks of small arms ammunition, explosive bolts, explosive rivets or cartridges for explosive actuated power tools in quantities involving less than 500 pounds of explosive material. For purposes of Health and Safety Code Section 12007, the fire code official shall be the "issuing authority" and shall be responsible for enforcement.

P. Section 5615 is hereby added to Chapter 56 of the California Fire Code to read as follows:

Section 5615 Explosives and blasting agents at terminals.

Shipments of explosives or blasting agents through or within the City West Sacramento shall be transported as expeditiously as possible. Explosives and blasting agents may not be maintained in terminals for more than twenty-four (24) hours, including Sundays and holidays. Explosive and blasting agents may not be stored in terminals adjacent to areas zoned RRA, R-1-A, R-1-B, R-2, R-3, and R-4 for not more than two (2) hours.

Q. Section 5704.2.9.6.1 of Chapter 57 of the California Fire Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 5704.2.9.6.1 Locations where above-ground tanks are prohibited. Storage of Class I and II liquids in above-ground tanks outside of buildings is prohibited within the limits established by law as the limits of districts in which such storage is prohibited in the following zoned areas: RRA, R-1-A, R-1-B, R-2, R-3, C, CH, POS, CBD, and WF.

R. Section 5806.2 of Chapter 58 of the California Fire Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 5806.2 Limitations.

Storage of flammable cryogenic fluids in stationary containers outside of buildings is prohibited within the limits established by law as the limits of districts in which such storage is prohibited in the following zoned areas: RRA, R-1-A, R-1-B, R-2, R-3, C, CH, POS, CBD, and WF.

S. Section 6104.2 of Chapter 61 of the California Fire Code is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 6104.2 Maximum capacity within established limits.

Within the limits established by law restricting the storage of liquefied petroleum gas for the protection of hea vily populated or congested areas, the aggregate capacity of any one installation shall not exceed a water capacity of 500 gallons (1,893 L) in the following zoned areas in the City of West Sacramento: RE, RRA, R-1-A, R-1-B, R-2, R-3, C, CH, POS, CBD, and WF, and those areas that are heavily populated or congested and as required by provisions of the City's zoning ordinances.

T. Section C102.2 is hereby added to Appendix C of the California Fire Code to read as follows:

Section C102.2 Hydrants on both sides of street. Hydrants shall be required on both sides of the street as set forth in the latest published edition of the City of West Sacramento Community Development Department Engineering Division Standard Specifications whenever one or more of the following conditions exist:

1. Streets that have median center dividers that make access to hydrants difficult, cause a time delay in fire response, or creates an undue hazard.

2. There are four (4) or more lanes of traffic.

3. Street width greater than 88 feet from the back of sidewalk.

U. Section C104.1 of Appendix C of the California Fire Code is hereby added to read as follows:

Section C104.1 Existing fire hydrants. Existing fire hydrants on public streets are allowed to be considered as available to meet the requirements of Sections C102 and C103. Existing fire hydrants on adjacent properties are allowed to be considered as available to meet the requirements of Sections C102 and C103 provided that a fire apparatus access road extends between properties and that an easement is established to prevent obstructions of such roads.

1. Existing single outlet 2.5 inch hydrants shall be changed to an approved City standard hydrant, as set forth in the latest published edition of the City of West Sacramento Community Development Department Engineering Division Standard Specifications when a tentative subdivision or parcel map, merge of lots, change of use of an existing building, expansion of an existing structure or new construction increases the required fire flow.

2. Existing single outlet 2.5 inch hydrants located adjacent to project frontage on any city right of way shall be changed to an approved city standard hydrant, as set forth in the latest published edition of the City of West Sacramento Community Development Department Engineering Division Standard Specifications.

3. Existing single outlet 2.5 inch hydrants serving new development or construction shall be changed to an approved city standard hydrant, as set forth in the latest published edition of the City of West Sacramento Community Development Department Engineering Division Standard Specifications.

4. Where water main improvements are required to meet fire flow and the existing water main has a single 2.5 inch outlet fire hydrant, an upgrade of hydrants will be required.

5. Existing hydrants in conflict with new right of way improvements shall be moved to an approved location at no cost to the City of West Sacramento.

(Ord. 22-20 § 3; Ord. 23-6, 3/15/2023; Ord. 25-10, 11/5/2025)