Willits Municipal Code Ch. 15.16 Fire Code

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 2025-08, Parts 1, 2, adopted Dec. 10, 2025, repealed the former Ch. 15.16, §§ 15.16.010—15.16.030, and enacted a new Ch. 15.16 as set out herein. The former Ch. 15.16 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. 93-1 § 4; Ord. 90-4 §§ 2—4; Ord. 90-3 § 2(part)); Ord. 86-25 § 2(part); Ord. 85-12 § 2(G); and Ord. 80-4 § 2(b)(part)).

The California Fire Code, 2025 edition, including Appendices B, BB, C, CC, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, N, and O as published by the International Code Council, as well as the 2025 edition of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (WUI), including Appendix A, B, and F as published by the International Code Council, be and are hereby adopted as the fire code of the City of Willits in the State of California regulating and governing the safeguarding of life and property from fire and explosion hazards arising from the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices, and from conditions hazardous to life or property in the occupancy of buildings and premises as herein provided; providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefore; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said fire code on file in the office of the City of Willits are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this chapter, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes, if any, prescribed in Sections 15.16.020 and 15.16.030.

(Ord. No. 2025-08, Part 1, 12-10-25)

The following sections of the 2025 edition of the California Fire Code are hereby amended and changed in the following respects:

Section 101.1 Title of Chapter 1 is amended to read as follows:

101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Fire Code of the City of Willits hereinafter referred to as "this code."

Section 104.1.1 Authority of the Fire Chief and the Fire Department.

It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief with the necessary authority to do whatever may be deemed necessary by the Fire Chief for the safety and protection of property and citizens from fire hazards. The Fire Chief may delegate this power to any other member of the Fire Department.

Section 104.12 Removal of debris and rubble after a fire.

Section 104.12.1 The owner or person(s) having under their control or in their possession upon any premises in the District any debris resulting from such fire, must remove such substances and debris from such premises within four (4) days after notification by the Fire Chief or their representative.

Section 104.12.2 Whenever any building or other structure in the District is partially burned, the owner thereof or the person in charge or control thereof, shall within ten days after notice from the Fire Chief or their Representative, remove all refuse, debris, charred and partially burned lumber and material from the ground; and if such building or other structure shall be burned to such an extent that it is rendered incapable of being repaired, the owner of the property upon which structure is located, or person in charge or control thereof, shall within ten days after notice from the Fire Chief or Building inspector, remove all the remaining portions of the building or structure, from the ground.

Section 104.12.3 The Fire Chief may extend the ten (10) day period of removal of such burned or partially burned buildings, when the insurance adjustment, if any, is still pending.

Section 105.1 General of Chapter 1 is amended to read as follows:

105.1 General. Permits shall be in accordance with Sections 105.1.1 through 105.7.25 or other provisions of this code as required by the Little Lake Fire Protection District/City of Willits.

Section 112 Board of Appeals Established of Chapter 1 is amended to read as follows:

112.1 Board of Appeals Established. In order to hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions or determinations made by the fire code official relative to the application and interpretation of this code, there shall be and is hereby created a Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals shall be the Board of Directors of the Little Lake Fire Protection District or a sub-committee as appointed by the Board of Directors of the Little Lake Fire Protection District. The fire code official shall be an ex-officio member of said board but shall have no vote on any matter before the board. The board shall adopt rules of procedure for conducting its business, and shall render all decisions and findings in writing to the Appellant with a duplicate copy to the fire code official.

Section 112.3 Qualifications of Chapter 1 is deleted.

Section 112.5 Appeals Process of Chapter 1 is added to read as follows:

112.5 Appeals Process. The appeals process for appeals of orders, decisions or determinations made by the fire code official relative to the application and interpretation of this code shall be defined by sections 112.5.1 through 112.5.5.

Section 112.5.1 Initiating Appeal of Chapter 1 is added to read as follows:

Section 112.5.1 Initiating Appeal.

Any beneficially interested party has the right to appeal the order served by the fire code official by filing a written "NOTICE OF APPEAL" with the office of the fire code official within ten days after service of such order and upon payment of the sum of $150. In the event the order of the fire code official is overturned following the appeal, the fee shall be returned. The notice shall state the order appealed from, the identity and mailing address of the Appellant, and the specific grounds upon which the appeal is made.

Section 112.5.2 Stay of Order of Chapter 1 is added to read as follows:

Section 112.5.2 Stay of Order.

The timely filing of a properly completed notice of appeal shall have the effect of staying the implementation of the order appealed from until the final decision of the appeal. Failure to file a timely notice of appeal waives any right to further challenge the order of the fire code official. "File" means delivered to the office of the fire code official at 74 E Commercial St, Willits, CA 95490.

Exception: Orders affecting acts or conditions which, in the opinion of the fire code official, pose an immediate threat to life, property, or the environment as a result of panic, fire, explosion, or release are enforceable when made and are not stayed by the filing of a notice of appeal.

Section 112.5.3 Hearing of Appeal of Chapter 1 is added to read as follows:

Section 112.5.3 Hearing of Appeal. Following is the process for establishing and hearing appeals:

The Board of Appeals, or the secretary thereof, shall set the matter to be heard at a date within thirty (30) days of receipt of such notice of appeal. Written notice of the time and place set for hearing shall be served on the Appellant by first class mail to the mailing address given in the notice of appeal. A hearing may not be conducted less than 20 days after notice is given to the applicant. The Board of Appeals may adopt rules governing the conduct of its hearings. Those rules shall include, at least, the following:

1. The fire code official shall submit evidence at the hearing substantiating his/her decision. Such evidence may include testimony, fire district, police or other reports of the incident, witness statements, and other documents. Not less than 10 days prior to the scheduled hearing, the fire code official must notify the Appellant of the name, address and phone number of any witness to the violation and furnish Appellant with a copy of any document the fire code official intends to submit at the hearing. Not less than seven (7) days prior to the hearing, the Appellant may request the fire code official to produce at the hearing any witness he/she intends to rely upon to substantiate the violation. The written request must name the witness or witnesses who are requested to attend the hearing. The fire code official may not rely on the testimony of any witness (including such testimony contained in reports or written witness statements) whose appearance at the hearing is required by this subsection, if that witness fails to appear.

2. Not less than 10 days prior to the hearing, the Appellant must notify the fire code official in writing of the name, address and phone number of any witness the Appellant intends to call as a witness at the hearing, provide a brief description of the proposed testimony, and furnish the fire code official with a copy of any document the Appellant intends to offer as evidence at the hearing. The Appellant may not call any witness to testify at the hearing who was not identified as required by this subsection or offer any document as evidence at the hearing that was not provided to the fire code official as required by this subsection.

3. At the hearing, the Appellant may be represented by an attorney, at Appellant's expense. Both the fire code official and the Appellant shall have the right to examine and cross-examine any witness produced at the hearing. The rules of evidence that normally apply in court shall not apply in a hearing before the Board of Appeals, but it shall only consider evidence which would be relied upon by reasonable people making an important decision and shall disregard evidence which by its nature is unreliable or not credible.

4. The entire hearing shall be electronically, or steno graphically recorded. The Board of Appeals shall base its decision exclusively on the evidence presented at the hearing and shall issue a written decision, which includes a statement of the relevant facts which it finds to be true and explains how the facts support its decision. The record of the hearing shall be preserved for not less than six (6) months after the decision is served on the Appellant.

Section 112.5.4 Hearing Decision of Chapter 1 is added to read as follows:

Section 112.5.4 Hearing Decision.

The chairperson of the Board of Appeals shall issue the written decision required by subsection 4 of Section 112.4 Hearing of appeal. The Board of Appeals may issue a decision affirming, modifying or vacating the order of the fire code official. The decision shall be in writing and shall be served upon the Appellant by first class mail to the mailing address given in the notice of appeal. The hearing decision shall include notice of the Appellant's right to seek review of the decision pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 1094.5 and 1094.6.

Section 112.5.5 Finality of the Decision of the Board of Appeals of Chapter 1 is added to read as follows:

Section 112.5.5 Finality of the Decision of the Board of Appeals.

The decision of the Board of Appeals shall be the final decision for the District. The Board of Appeals shall have the power to continue any hearing and may, in its discretion, take the appeal under submission. The Board of Appeals shall render a decision not later than the seventh (7th) day following the date the matter was taken under submission, and forthwith notify the interested parties as previously set forth.

Section 112.5.6 Appeal to Superior Court of Chapter 1 is added to read as follows:

Section 112.5.6 Appeal to Superior Court.

Judicial review of the decision of the Board of Appeals shall be governed by the Code of Civil Procedure Sections 1094.5 and 1094.6.

Section 112.5.7 Enforcement of Decision of Chapter 1 is added to read as follows:

Section 112.5.7 Enforcement of Decision.

Unless stayed by a court, any final decision of the Board of Appeals is effective immediately and may be implemented and enforced by the District. The remedies provided by this code are cumulative and in addition to any other remedies available at law or in equity.

1. Causing, permitting, aiding, abetting, or concealing a violation of any provision of this ordinance shall constitute a violation.

2. Violations of this code are hereby declared to be public nuisances.

3. A violation of this code constitutes a misdemeanor/infraction punishable by a fine of $1,000 or by imprisonment in the County jail for six months, or both.

4. In addition to other remedies provided by this ordinance or by other law, any violation of this ordinance may be remedied by a civil action brought by the District, including, for example, administrative or judicial nuisance abatement proceedings, other legally authorized enforcement proceedings, and suits for injunctive relief.

Section 113.4 Violation Penalties of Chapter 1 is amended to read as follows:

Section 113.4 Violation Penalties.

Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail 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 guilty of a misdemeanor/infraction. The first citation within a 12-month period, for violations of the Fire Code and any amendments adopted herein shall be treated as a Civil Penalty payable directly to the Little Lake Fire Protection District and is set at $250.00 plus the actual costs of all inspections required to gain compliance at the current rate set by the Little Lake Fire Protection District, per hour with a 1 hour minimum. Said civil penalties shall be a debt owed to the District by the person responsible for the violation within thirty (30) days after the date of mailing of the citation unless an appeal is filed as provided in this section. Upon failure to pay the civil penalty when due, the responsible person shall be liable in a civil action brought by the Little Lake Fire Protection District for such penalty and costs of the litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees.

Any subsequent citations within a twenty-four (24) month period for any violations of the Fire Code and any amendments adopted herein shall be misdemeanors/infractions, and shall be subject to the penalties set forth herein, or a civil penalty shall be assessed in the sum of $500.00 plus the actual costs of all inspections required to gain compliance at the rate set from time to time by the Little Lake Fire Protection District. The imposition of a penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within a reasonable time. When not otherwise specified, each day that a violation occurs or continues, after a final notice has been delivered, shall constitute a separate offense. The application of both penalties shall be held to prevent the enforced correction of prohibited condition. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed or interpreted to prevent the Little Lake Fire Protection District from recovering all costs associated with a Fire District.

Any violation of any provision of this Chapter shall constitute a public nuisance and shall entitle the Little Lake Fire Protection District to collect the costs of abatement and related administrative costs by a nuisance abatement lien as more particularly set forth in Government Code Section 38773.1, and by special assessment to be collected by the County Tax Collector as more particularly set forth in Government Code Section 38773.5. At least thirty (30) days prior to recordation of the lien, or submission of the report to the Tax Collector for collection of this special assessment, the record owner shall receive notice from the Chief of the Little Lake Fire Protection District of the intent to charge the property owner for all administrative costs associated with enforcement of this Ordinance and abatement of the nuisance. The notice shall include a summary of costs associated with enforcement of this Ordinance and abatement of the nuisance. The property owner may appeal the Chief's decision to the Board of Directors of the Little Lake Fire Protection District within fifteen (15) days of the date of the notice and request a public hearing prior to recordation of the lien or submission of the report to the County Tax Collector for collection of the special assessment. In addition to the foregoing, the Little Lake Fire Protection District is authorized to prosecute a civil action to collect such abatement costs from the property owner or other person in possession or control of the affected property, and shall be entitled to recover such abatement costs, together with the cost of litigation, including reasonable attorney's fees.

Any person receiving a citation for a civil penalty pursuant to Section 112.3, Violation Penalties of Chapter 1, may file an appeal per Section 111.4 through 111.4.7 of this code against imposition of the civil penalty or response costs and expenses.

Section 114.4 Failure to Comply of Chapter 1 is amended to read as follows:

Section 114.4 Failure to Comply.

Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe conditions, shall be liable to a fine payable directly to the Little Lake Fire Protection District set at not less than $250.00 or more than $2000.00 per day, plus the actual costs of all inspections required to gain compliance at the rate set from time to time by the Little Lake Fire Protection District. This civil penalty shall be a debt owed to the District by the person responsible for the violation within thirty (30) days after the date of mailing of the citation unless an appeal is filed as provided for in Section 112.5.

Section 503 Fire Apparatus Access Roads in its entirety.

Section 503.4.2 Roadway Design Features of Chapter 5 is hereby added to read as follows:

Section 503.3 Marking of Chapter 5 is hereby added to read as follows:

Section 503.3 Marking.

Where the fire code official determines that it is necessary to ensure adequate fire access, the fire code official may designate existing roadways as fire access roadways as provided by Vehicle Code section 22500.1 (public) or 22658(a) (private).

Section 505.1 Address Identification of Chapter 5 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 505.1 Address Identification.

Approved numbers and/or addresses shall be placed and maintained on all new and existing buildings and at appropriate additional locations so as to be plainly visible and legible from the street or roadway fronting the property from either direction of approach. Said numbers shall contrast with their background and shall meet the minimum standards as to size: 4" high with a 0.5" stroke for residential buildings, 6" high with a 0.5" stroke for commercial and multi-residential buildings, and 12" high with a 1" stroke for industrial buildings. Additional numbers shall be required where deemed necessary by the fire code official, such as rear access doors, building corners, and entrances to commercial centers. The fire code official may establish different minimum sizes for numbers for various categories of projects.

Section 505.3 Easement Address Signs of Chapter 5 is hereby added to read as follows:

Section 505.3 Easement Address Signs.

All easements, which are not named differently from the roadway from which they originate, shall have an address sign installed and maintained, listing all street numbers occurring on that easement, located where the easement intersects the named roadway. The minimum size of numbers on that sign shall be 4" in height with a minimum stroke of 0.5" and shall contrast with the background.

Section 505.4 Map Directories of Chapter 5 is hereby added to read as follows:

Section 505.4 Map Directories.

A lighted directory map, meeting current Fire District standards, shall be installed at each driveway entrance to multiple unit residential projects and mobile home parks, where the numbers of units in such projects exceed 15.

Section 505.5 Response Map Updates of Chapter 5 is hereby added to read as follows:

Section 505.5 Response Map Updates.

Any new development, which necessitates updating of emergency response maps by virtue of new structures, hydrants, roadways, or similar features, shall be required to provide map updates in a format (PDF and/or CAD format as approved by the fire code official) or compatible with current District mapping services and shall be charged a reasonable fee for updating all response maps.

Section 506.1 Key box where required.

Where access to or within a structure or an area is restricted because of secured openings or where immediate access is necessary for life saving or firefighting purposes, the fire code official is authorized to require a key box to be installed in an approved location. The key box shall be of an approved type listed in accordance with UL1037, and shall contain keys to gain necessary access as required by the fire code official.

Section 506.1.1 Locks. An approved lock shall be installed on gates or similar barriers where required by the fire code official.

Section 506.2 Key Box Maintenance.

The operator of the building shall immediately notify the fire code official and provide a new key where a lock is changed or rekeyed. The key to such lock shall be secured in the key box.

Section 506.3 Emergency Electrical Disconnects of Chapter 5 is hereby added as follows:

Section 506.3 Emergency Electrical Disconnects.

Where access to main electrical control panels requires entry to, and passage through, portions of a structure that may be involved with fire, smoke, gasses, hazardous materials, or which otherwise present unsafe conditions to emergency personnel, the fire code official may require that a means of remotely disconnecting electrical service to the structure be provided. This means of remotely disconnecting electrical service shall be by a secured key switch mechanism approved by the Fire District.

Section 1201.4 Alternate Power Sources of Chapter 12 is hereby added to read as follows:

Section 1201.4 Alternate Power Sources.

All permanent installations of electrical generators, wind generators, or other power sources shall be approved by the building code official. All applicable provisions of the California Electrical Code, the California Plumbing Code, the California Building Code, California Residential Code, and this Code shall be followed for any such installation. Permanent engraved and affixed signage, red in color, reading "WARNING - This premise is provided with an Alternate Power source, Disconnection of commercial power may not disable the electric power source." Lettering shall be a minimum of ½" tall and shall be permanently affixed on each electrical panel subject to backfeed from alternate power sources. Any and all power disabling switches shall be clearly labeled.

Section 903.2 Where required of Chapter 9 is hereby amended to read as herein provided. This Section shall not amend the portion commencing and following Section 903.2.1

Section 903.2 Where required Approved automatic sprinkler systems in new, additions to existing, remodeled, added to or altered buildings and structures shall be provided in the locations described in this section.

A. An automatic fire-extinguishing system shall be installed throughout all new buildings three (3) or more stories in height, or more than thirty (30) feet in height, and in all new buildings with a total floor area of more than five thousand (5,000) square feet regardless of occupancy or construction type.

B. Additions; For additions to any existing building that result in the building's total floor area equaling or exceeding 5000 square feet in total floor area, or for additions to any building over 5000 square feet of total floor area, such buildings shall meet the requirements for a new building.

C. Alterations or Repairs; For alterations or repairs to an existing building with 5000 square feet or more in total floor area that, within a 24-month period, exceeds 25% of the assessed valuation of the building, (excluding land value) such building shall meet the sprinkler requirements for a new building.

D. Design Criteria; Whenever fire sprinkler systems are installed in buildings of undetermined use, they shall be designed and installed to have a sprinkler density that will accommodate Ordinary Hazard Group 2 with a minimum design area of 3000 square feet. Where a subsequent occupancy requires a system with greater capability, it shall be the building owner's responsibility to upgrade the system to the required density to meet any additional requirements of NFPA Standards.

(Ord. No. 2025-08, Part 2, 12-10-25)

The following sections of the 2025 edition of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code are hereby amended and changed in the following respects:

Section 101.1 Title of Chapter 1 is amended to read as follows:

101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code of the City of Willits, hereinafter referred to as "this code."

Section 103.1 Creation of agency.

The City of Willits is hereby created, and the official in charge thereof shall be known as the Fire Code Official of the Little Lake Fire District. The function of this agency shall be the implementation, administration, and enforcement of the provisions of this code.

(Ord. No. 2025-08, Part 2, 12-10-25)