Planning/Land Development

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Commercial Buildings

In all occupancies (except Group R, Division 3 and Group U occupancies), an approved, automatic sprinkler system shall be installed where the occupancy/building has 3,600 or more square feet of total floor area, except where either sections of the International Fire Council or the California state fire marshal’s regulations, and/or local fire district ordinances applicable to a project, are more restrictive. Then the more restrictive shall apply.

Where additions increase the total size of the building to 3,600 square feet or more, the addition of the existing occupancy/building shall be provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system. Fire separation areas shall not be used to reduce this requirement.

Residential Buildings

On Jan. 1, 2011, a new requirement for residential fire sprinklers in newly constructed California homes took effect - a change that fire officials say has the potential to save countless lives across California. View the residential sprinkler requirements video.

15.04.700 Fire Code Adopted

California Fire Code, 2010 Edition Volumes 1 & 2, including, the administrative provisions in the California Building Code, Chapter 1, Division II based on the 2009 International Fire Code including the Appendices, as published by the International Code Council (ICC) as adopted and amended by the California Building Standards Commission in the California Building Standards Code, Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, Part 9.

15.04.710 Fire Code Amended

The California Fire Code adopted in Section 15.04.700 is modified, amended and/or supplemented as follows:

A. 1. The California Fire Code (CFC) as adopted above with approved amendments and appendix chapters, and all State Fire Marshal codes delegated to local agencies, are to be enforced by the Chief of each Fire District, CSA, or as designated by contract. In the absence of the above, the Placer County Fire Warden shall act as the County Fire Marshal. Where provisions in the CFC conflict with other statutes/regulations or County ordinances, including but not limited to the Placer County Land Development Manual, the most restrictive shall govern.

2. Pursuant to State Health and Safety Code Section 13869.7, all fire district amendments to the CFC will be valid after such amendments are first authorized by the fire district board and then approved by the Board of Supervisors.

B. Section 103.1, Department of Fire Prevention – General, is amended by replacing the first paragraph with the following:

The Chief of a fire department/district, with the written approval of the Board of Directors of the particular fire department is authorized to make and enforce such rules and regulations for the prevention and control of fires and fire hazards as may be necessary from time to time to carry out the intent of this Code. Three certified copies of such rules and regulations shall be filed with the Clerk of the jurisdiction and shall be in effect immediately thereafter. Pursuant to State Health and Safety Code Section 13869.7, rules and regulations that involve building standards will be valid when approved by the Board of Supervisors.

C. Section 108, Board of Appeals, is amended by replacing the first paragraph with the following:

In order to determine the suitability of alternate materials and type of construction and to provide for reasonable interpretation of the provisions of this code, there is hereby appointed a board of appeals consisting of the board of directors of each fire protection district for matters within their jurisdiction and the Placer County Building Board of Appeals in the remaining areas of the County. The Chief shall be an ex-officio member of the Board and shall act as secretary to the Board. The Board shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations for conducting its investigations and shall render all decisions and findings in writing to the chief with a duplicate copy to the appellant and may recommend to the Executive Body such new legislation as is consistent therewith.

D. Chapter 1 Section 109.2, Notice of Violation, is amended by adding the following:

The Chief of any fire department/district within the County or his/her authorized representatives shall have authority to enforce this code and issue citations for violations in their respective jurisdiction.

E. The following is added to Section 202 – Definitions: Add the following:

Fire Hydrant: shall mean a hydrant supplied by a 6 inch or larger branch line, one or more pumper connection (4½ inch) and 2 or more 2½ inch outlets, capable of supply required fire flow for at least 2 hours.

Section 502 Definitions: Add the following:

Emergency Vehicle Access and occupant emergency egress/evacuation roads:

Use - Access for emergency vehicles during an emergency.

Emergency egress/evacuation for residents during an emergency.

Size - Roadways shall meet the requirements of the local authority having jurisdiction but shall not be less than the requirements set in PRC 4290 and Placer County Code.

Access restrictions - There shall be no means for restricting public or private use in the event of an emergency. If gated, gates shall be manually opening gates with no lock or latch requiring special knowledge.

Fire Department Access Gates:

Use - Fire Department access to open lands and vegetated areas for the purpose of extinguishing a vegetation fire.

Size - Minimum 10’ wide opening with 15’ clear vertical clearance.

Access restrictions - Access is for emergency firefighting equipment only.

Approved gates:

Section 503.2.4 Turning Radius

The inside turning radius for a Fire Access road shall be 30 feet or greater. The outside turning radius for an access road shall be 50 feet or greater.

Section 503.6 Security gates to include the following:

Private Road Gated Entrance:

1. Gate openings to be 2’ wider than the roadway served.

2. Emergency vehicle access shall be provided by both a “Knox” over-ride and Private Road Gated Entrance:

Residential driveway gated entrance;

Gated residential driveways shall be provided with Fire Department access locks or switches as approved by the authority having jurisdiction.

F. Section 903.2, Where Required, is amended to read, add the following:

In all occupancies except Group R, Division 3 and Group U Occupancies an approved automatic sprinkler system shall be installed where the occupancy/building has 3,600 or more square feet of total floor area, except where other sections of the IFC or the California State Fire Marshals regulations, and/or local fire district ordinances applicable to a project are more restrictive, then the more restrictive shall apply. Where additions increase the total size of the building to 3,600 square feet or more, the addition and the existing occupancy/building shall be provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system. Fire separation areas shall not be used to reduce this requirement.

G. Section 903.4, Sprinkler System Monitoring and Alarms, is amended to read:

All valves controlling the water supply for automatic sprinkler systems and water-flow switches on all sprinkler systems shall be electrically supervised. Valve supervision and water-flow alarm and trouble signals shall be distinctly different and shall be automatically transmitted to an approved central station.

Exception: Group R, Division 3 Occupancies will only be monitored if required by the local fire district and/or authority having jurisdiction.

H. Section 907.2 of the IFC, Where Required – new buildings and structures, is amended to read as follows:

All occupancies except Group R, Division 3 and Group U occupancies shall have an approved automatic fire alarm system installed when the occupancy/building has 1,500 square feet or more of total floor area unless other sections of the CFC or California State Fire Marshals regulations are more restrictive, then the more restrictive shall apply. Fire alarms systems shall be in accordance with Section 907 of the CFC or the current edition of NFPA 72 if the specific occupancy is not covered in the CFC.

Additionally, all A, E, H, I and M occupancies shall have an automatic smoke/heat detection system installed in addition to any other system(s) required by this code. Where additions increase the total size of the building to 1,500 square feet or more, the addition and the existing occupancy/building shall be provided with an approved automatic smoke/heat detection system.

Fire alarm control panels in new buildings shall be sized to allow for maximum number of anticipated devices at build-out.

I. Section 2301, General, is amended by adding the following item:

6. Tires: No person shall pile, cause to be piled, or maintain any pile of tires (of any manufactured material) at a height greater than ten (10) feet, except in approved horizontal storage racks, measured in all cases from the ground level. Tires shall be neatly piled and in no case shall any one pile occupy more than two hundred (200) square feet of floor or lot area. An aisle of at least ten (10) feet shall be maintained at all times between the piles in such a manner as to allow free access.

J. Section 3401.1, Scope and Application, is amended to read as follows:

It shall be unlawful to store flammable liquids as defined in Chapter 34 of the International Fire Code including gasoline and other motor fuels, in above ground storage containers, either portable or installed, in a RS, RM, RA, RF, F or AE zoned area on a parcel of less than ten (10) acres. In areas where above ground storage is permitted, minimum distances from property lines and structures for a tank of any type shall be not less than 50 feet. The limitations/prohibitions of this section shall also apply to areas in Squaw Valley designated as Low Density Residential (LDR), High Density Residential (HDR), Forest-Recreation or Conservation Preserve. In addition, the limitations/ prohibitions of this section shall apply to areas in the Lake Tahoe Basin which are designated as Tourist/ Residential, Tourist, Residential, Recreation and Conservation.

Any above ground storage must be approved, in writing, by an official of the appropriate fire protection department/district. This section shall not be applicable to portable containers suitable for such storage of 5 gallons or less.

K. Section 3404.2.9.5.: “Locations where above ground tanks are prohibited” is amended to read as follows:

Storage of Class I and Class II flammable liquids in aboveground tanks outside of buildings is prohibited unless approved by the Fire Chief having jurisdiction, using standards not less than the IFC or recognized equivalent.

L. Section 3406.4, Bulk Plants or Terminals, is amended to read as follows:

No new bulk plant shall be constructed within the limits established by the Placer County zoning ordinance, as limits of the districts in which such plants are prohibited. Where allowed portions of properties where flammable and combustible liquids are received by tank vessel, pipelines, tank cars or tank vehicles and are stored or blended in bulk for the purpose of distributing such liquids by tank vessels, pipelines, tank cars, tank vehicles or containers shall be in accordance with IFC Section 3406.4.

N. Appendix C, Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution, Table C105.1, is amended to read:

Table C 105.1 

Number and Distribution of Fire Hydrants

O. Appendix D, Fire Apparatus Access Roads is adopted and amended as follows:

D103.1 (add: Exception: R-3 Occupancies) 12 percent in grade, unless otherwise authorized by the fire chief.

Exception 2: The driveway slope may exceed 12% (12 vertical feet in one hundred horizontal feet) slope provided the driveway meets or exceeds the prescribed minimum width, and is not longer in length than the maximum permissible height of the structure within such jurisdiction, but in no case more than 35 feet, and has the appropriate transitional slopes at the edge of pavement to property line, and has no significant articulation greater than 45% angle in its entire length).

In areas below 5,000 ft. elevation driveway grade shall not exceed 16% unless authorized by the fire chief.

Delete Section D103.5

Section D104 Commercial and Industrial Developments

D104.2 is amended to read:

D104.2 Buildings exceeding 62,000 square feet in area.

Buildings or facilities having a gross building area of more than 62,000 square feet (5760 m2) shall be provided with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads.

Delete exception

Section D107 is amended to read:

Section D107 One- or Two-Family Residential Developments

D107.1 One- or two-family dwelling residential developments.

Developments of one- or two-family dwellings where the number of dwelling units exceeds 30 shall be provided with separate and approved fire apparatus access roads and shall meet the requirements of Section D104.3.

Delete exception 1 and 2

15.04.750 Solar Photovoltaic Systems Installations

For the installation of solar photovoltaic systems, if the buildings module coverage is 50% or less and conforms to the Installation Guidelines, the Building Service Division would approve the installation. If the buildings module coverage exceeds more than 50% of the roof it will be reviewed by the local fire authority having jurisdiction to verify access and ventilation requirements are met prior to the issuance of a building permit.

(Ord. 5200-B (part), 2002: Ord. 4959-B (part), 1999: prior code § 4.10)