Sections:
23.32.010 Requirements--General.
23.32.020 Purpose.
23.32.030 Definitions.
23.32.040 Water flow requirements.
23.32.050 Plans--Review by Fire Chief.
23.32.060 Plans--Approval or disapproval.
23.32.070 Fire equipment access required.
23.32.080 Prerequisites for final inspection and occupancy permit.
23.32.090 Fire protection facilities--Maintenance requirements.
23.32.100 Fire protection facilities--On-site--Alteration or modification.
23.32.110 Fire protection facilities--On-site--Access requirements.


23.32.010 REQUIREMENTS -- GENERAL. Fire protection facilities shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Fire Code and this chapter. (Ord. 1983-10 § 78, 1983: prior code § 89.01).

23.32.020 PURPOSE. This chapter is adopted for the following purposes:
(1)  To protect public health, safety and welfare from the dangers of fire because of the lack of fire protection facilities and of adequate water flow for fire protection available to buildings located at a distance from public streets, alleys and rights-of-way;
(2)  To establish uniform standards for the construction and placement of fire protection facilities and the delivery of adequate water flow for fire protection upon private property;
(3)  To provide for the installation, maintenance and supervision of fire protection facilities and adequate water flow for the fire protection upon private property. (Prior code § 89.02).

23.32.030 DEFINITIONS. In the construction of this chapter, the definitions contained in this section shall be observed and applied, except when the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1)  "Land" means any lot, parcel, zoning plot, acreage or building site, or any other land or portion thereof, whether improved or unimproved;
(2)  "On-site fire protection facilities" includes such facilities whether installed before or after the effective date of this chapter;
(3)  "Owner" means one or more purchasers under a contract for purchase of, or who holds record title to, the freehold interest in a lot or parcel to real property. In the case of more than one owner, each owner shall be held responsible for the performance of any act required by this chapter;
(4)  "To develop land" means to make any improvements or do any work upon such land as would require the issuance of a building permit under Chapter 23.08. (Prior code § 89.03).

23.32.040 WATER FLOW REQUIREMENTS. When any land is to be developed in such a manner that any part of a proposed building or structure at grade level to be located thereon will be in excess of 300 feet from a fire hydrant located, or to be located prior to the completion of the building or structure, in a public street, alley, or place, or when any part of the building or structure is in excess of 150 feet from a public street or approved access roadway for fire apparatus as required by Section 23.30.060, the owner shall provide, at his expense, in the public street, alley or place, or on-site, such fire protection facilities and adequate water flow for fire protection as the Fire Chief deems necessary, in accordance with the Uniform Fire Code. All installations made in a public street, alley, or place shall be subject to the inspection of, and approval by, the City Engineer and subject to the conditions of an encroachment permit issued therefor. Whenever fire protection facilities, including but not limited to water mains and hydrant fixture, as required herein have been installed, extended, enlarged or expanded and any portion of the costs of which have been advanced by the City, a charge shall be collected prior to the issuance of a building permit for any building or structure on any parcel, unit, lot or part of any property served by fire protection facilities, which charge shall be computed by the City Engineer in an equitable manner so as to relate benefit received from said facilities to the actual cost thereof. (Ord. 1983-10 § 79, 1983; Ord. 1971-44 § 1, 1971: prior code § 89.04).

23.32.050 PLANS -- REVIEW BY FIRE CHIEF. Every application for a building permit and its accompanying plans filed pursuant to Chapter 23.08, shall be referred to the Fire Chief for review and comment, if:
(1)  The proposed development will consist of one or more buildings located upon a single zoning plot, or additions thereto, the total floor area of which, including that of any existing building located upon the same zoning plot, will exceed twenty-five thousand square feet; or
(2)  The proposed development will consist of one or more buildings, or additions thereto, any one of which exceeds either two stories or thirty feet in height, whichever is lesser; or
(3)  The proposed development will consist of one or more buildings, or additions thereto, wherein any part at grade of any building or structure will be in excess of 300 feet from a fire hydrant located or to be located in a public street, alley, or place prior to the completion of the building or buildings, or when any part of the building or structure is more than 150 feet from a public street or approved access roadway for fire apparatus. (Ord. 1983-10 § 80, 1983: prior code § 89.05).

23.32.060 PLANS -- APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL. When any plans are submitted under Section 23.32.050, the Fire Chief shall review the same and determine whether or not the fire protection facilities and water flow for fire protection existing or to be provided are adequate in accordance with the fire prevention code. If the Fire Chief has determined that the facilities and water flow for fire protection existing or to be provided are adequate, he shall endorse the plans with his approval and return the same to the Building Official. If the Fire Chief shall have determined that the facilities existing or to be provided are not adequate, he shall:
(1)  Disapprove the plans and indicate in writing to the Building Official wherein they are deficient (in which event the Building Official shall require from the owner revised plans to cure the deficiency, and the revised plans shall be submitted to the Fire Chief); or
(2)  Conditionally approve the plans (in which event said conditions shall be made a part of said plans). If the Fire Chief fails for a period of ten days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) from the date of submission to him by the Building Official, to take any action with respect to any plans, the plans shall be deemed approved and the Building Official may issue a permit. (Ord. 1983-10 § 81, 1983: prior code § 89.06).

23.32.070 FIRE EQUIPMENT ACCESS REQUIRED. Whenever any fire protection facilities, hydrants, or other appurtenances for use by the fire department are required to be installed pursuant to this chapter, there shall be included in the development plans and delineated thereon, adequate provision for access by fire department personnel and equipment to and from all such fire protection facilities, including, but not limited to, hydrants and appurtenances. Such access shall be approved by the Fire Chief and the owner shall be required to dedicate to City an easement sufficient for access by the fire department to such fire protection facilities. All such access easements shall be maintained in such a manner as to provide clear and unobstructed ingress and egress by department personnel and equipment at all times and shall meet the requirements for access roadways for fire apparatus as contained in the Uniform Fire Code. (Ord. 1983-10 § 82, 1983: prior code § 89.07).

23.32.080 PREREQUISITES FOR FINAL INSPECTION AND OCCUPANCY PERMIT. No final inspection by the Building Official as to all or any portion of the development shall be deemed completed and no certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate of occupancy shall be issued unless and until the installation of the prescribed fire protection facilities and access ways have been completed and approved by the Fire Chief. (Prior code 89.08).

23.32.090 FIRE PROTECTION FACILITIES -- MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. All on-site fire protection facilities shall be, at all times, maintained in accordance with the Uniform Fire Code. The Fire Chief and his authorized representatives are empowered, at his discretion, to enter upon the land and conduct periodic tests and inspections of said facilities. If the Fire Chief determines that any on-site fire protection facilities are being maintained in such manner as not to meet national standards, he shall order the owner to make such repairs, alterations or additions as shall conform the facilities to national standards. The Fire Chief shall designate a reasonable time within which such repairs, alterations or additions are to be made and it is unlawful for any person so ordered willfully to fail or refuse to comply with such order. A copy of the order of the Fire Chief shall be served upon each tenant. Without limiting the foregoing, the willful failure or refusal to comply with such an order constitutes an occupancy violation within the meaning of the applicable provisions of the building code. (Ord. 1983-10 § 83, 1983: prior code § 89.09).

23.32.100 FIRE PROTECTION FACILITIES -- ON-SITE -- ALTERATION OR MODIFICATION. On-site fire protection facilities may be altered or repaired with the written consent of the Fire Chief subject to the provisions of Section 23.32.040. (Prior code § 89.10).

23.32.110 FIRE PROTECTION FACILITIES -- ON-SITE -- ACCESS REQUIREMENTS. The access easements provided for in Section 23.32.070 shall be subject to the following provisions:
(1)  Section 10.16.070 shall be applicable to all on-site hydrants;
(2)  Where curbs exist, the owner of the land shall paint them red for a distance of fifteen feet in either direction from the hydrant. Where curbs do not exist, there shall be appropriate markings painted on the pavement, or signs erected, or both, giving notice that parking is prohibited for a distance of fifteen feet from such hydrant. When such areas are so marked or signed, no person shall park or leave standing a vehicle within fifteen feet of any such hydrant;
(3)  If, in the judgment of the Fire Chief, it is necessary to prohibit vehicular parking along private roads in order to keep them clear and unobstructed, he may require the owner of the land to paint the curbs red or install signs or give other appropriate notice to the effect that parking is prohibited. It shall thereafter be unlawful for such person or persons so ordered to fail to install and maintain in good condition the form of notice so prescribed. When such areas are marked or signed as provided herein, no persons shall park or leave standing a vehicle in violation of such marking or sign. (Ord. 1983-10, § 84, 1983: prior code § 89.11).