Prior ordinance history: Ords. 2302, 2371, 2427, 2490, 2568, 2636.
(a) 
The 2025 California Fire Code, as adopted and amended by the California Building Standards Commission in the 2025 California Building Standards Code, Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, including Chapter 1; Section 308.1.7; Section 311, Section 403.11, Section 503, Section 510, Section 1103.2, Appendix B, Appendix C, Appendix D and Appendix E is hereby adopted by reference.
(b) 
There is one copy of said code on file in the office of the fire chief for use and examination by the public.
(Ord. 2680, 11/18/2025)
Wherever any of the names or terms defined in this article are used in the California Fire Code, each term or name shall have the meaning ascribed to it in this section.
"City of" or "the city" or "jurisdiction"
shall mean the City of Davis, California. All other names or terms shall apply to the appropriate officer of the City of Davis.
"Corporate counsel"
shall mean the city attorney for the city.
"Fire code official" or "chief of the fire prevention division"
shall mean the fire chief or fire marshal of the City of Davis.
The terms "should" or "it is recommended" are intended to be read as mandatory requirements.
(Ord. 2680, 11/18/2025)
This chapter imposes no liability or responsibility on the city for damages resulting from defective buildings; nor shall the city or any official or employee thereof be held as assuming any liability or responsibility by reason of the inspection authorized by this chapter.
(Ord. 2680, 11/18/2025)
The 2025 California Fire Code, adopted herein by reference, is hereby amended by the following additions, deletions, and amendments set forth in this section. The section numbers herein reference said Code:
(a) 
CHAPTER 1 - SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
(1) 
Section 1.11.2.1.1 #1 is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:
1.11.2.1.1 #1 The City of Davis delegates to the Chief Building Official the enforcement of the building standards relating to fire and panic safety and other regulations of the State Fire Marshal as they relate to Group R-3 occupancies, as described in Section 310.1 Part 2 of the California Building Code.
(2) 
Section 103.1 is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:
103.1 Establishment and duties of Division of Fire Prevention. The Division of Fire Prevention is established in the Fire Department of the City of Davis, under the direction of the Fire Chief. The function of the Division shall be the implementation, administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Code.
(3) 
Section 103.2 is hereby deleted in its entirety without replacement.
(4) 
Section 103.4 is hereby added to read as follows:
103.4 Fees for plan checking and inspections. The City Council may, by resolution, establish a schedule of fees to be charged and collected for plan review and inspection services performed. A copy of fee schedules shall be kept in the office of the City Clerk and in the office of the Fire Chief and shall be available for inspection by the public.
(b) 
CHAPTER 3 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
(1) 
Section 311.7 is hereby added to read as follows:
311.7 Property damaged by fire. The owner, occupant, or other person having under his or her control any property, or materials on a property damaged by fire, shall, when ordered by the fire chief, immediately secure the property against entry or unauthorized access by the public, by boarding up all openings, fencing, barricading, or other appropriate measures. Once written notice has been served with a timeline, all debris and/or damaged materials shall be removed from the property and proof furnished to the fire chief or fire code official that demolition, replacement or repair of all fire damaged structures remaining on the property has been accomplished.
(c) 
CHAPTER 5 - FIRE SERVICE FEATURES
(1) 
Section 503.2.1 is hereby amended to read as follows:
503.2.1 Dimensions. Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 feet (6,096 mm), exclusive of shoulders and parked vehicles, except for approved security gates in accordance with Section 503.6, and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inches (4,115 mm). The width of a fire apparatus access road shall be measured from the lip of the gutter. The gutter itself shall not be considered a drivable portion of the roadway.
(2) 
Section 503.2.4 is hereby amended to read as follows:
503.2.4 Turning Radius. Fire apparatus access road turns shall have a minimum turning radius of 25-foot inside and 45-foot outside.
(3) 
Section 503.4.2 is hereby added to read as follows:
503.4.2 Fire Lanes. The fire chief shall have the authority to designate fire lanes on private property when, in the judgment of the fire chief, it is necessary to keep the location clear and unobstructed. The maintenance of all designated fire lanes shall be the responsibility of the owner of the private property upon which they are located. When required by the Chief, fire lanes shall be indicated as described in Section 22500.1 of the California Vehicle Code, as it may be amended and renumbered from time to time.
(4) 
Section 503.6 is hereby amended to read as follows:
503.6 Security Gates. The installation of security gates across a fire apparatus access road shall be approved by the fire code official. Where security gates are installed, they shall have an approved means of emergency operation. The security gates and the emergency operation shall be maintained operational at all times. Electric gate operators, where provided, shall be listed in accordance with UL 325 and shall be equipped with a Davis Fire Department approved Knox key override switch. Gates intended for automatic operation shall be designed, constructed, and installed to comply with the requirements of ASTM F2200.
(5) 
Section 505.1 is hereby amended to read as follows:
505.1 Address Identification. New and existing buildings (including, but not limited to, suites, dwelling units and apartments) shall be provided with approved address identification. The address identification shall be legible and placed in a position that is visible from the street or road fronting the property. Address identification characters shall contrast with the background and shall be lighted either internally or externally. Address numbers shall be Arabic numbers or alphabetical letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out. Each character shall not be less than 6 inches (152.4 mm) high with a minimum stroke width of 1/2 inch (12.7 mm). Where required by the fire code official, numbers shall be of a larger approved size to make them more visible from the street or road. Where required by the fire code official, address identification shall be provided in additional approved locations to facilitate emergency response. Where access is by means of a private road, and the building cannot be viewed from the public way, a monument, pole or other sign or means shall be used to identify the structure. Address identification shall be maintained.
(6) 
Section 505.1.1 is hereby added to read as follows:
505.1.1 Address naming. New and existing buildings and parcels shall be addressed based upon the street or road closest or adjacent to the direction the main entrance faces as approved and determined by the fire code official.
(7) 
Section 507.5.5 is hereby amended to read as follows:
507.5.5 Clear space around hydrants. A 3 foot (914 mm) clear space shall be maintained around the circumference of fire hydrants. In addition, a 90-degree 3 foot arc of clear space shall be maintained from the hydrant to the street or other access way from which fire engines can access the fire hydrant.
(d) 
CHAPTER 9 - FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
(1) 
Section 903.2 is hereby amended to read as follows:
903.2 Where required. Approved automatic sprinkler systems in new buildings and structures shall be provided in the locations described in Sections 903.2.1 through 903.2.12.1 and Sections 903.2.14 through 903.2.21.
(2) 
Section 903.2.12.1 is hereby added as to read as follows:
903.2.12.1 Sprinkler requirements based on area. Automatic fire sprinkler systems are required in every building, except for Group R occupancies, in which the total floor area of all floors is 5,000 square feet or more, or any building 25 feet or more in height from grade plane or any building which is three or more stories regardless of height. Notwithstanding other provisions of this Code, this rule shall be applied to alterations, repairs, additions, and changes of occupancy to existing buildings as follows:
a. 
Where there is no change of occupancy, alterations or repairs not increasing floor area, total height, or number of stories of an existing building may be made without making the entire building comply with this chapter.
b. 
No change shall be made in the character of occupancy or use of any existing building or structure unless the entire building or structure is made to comply with this Chapter.
Exception: The character of the occupancy of an existing building may be changed subject to the approval of the Chief Building Official and the Fire Chief, and the building may be occupied for the purposes in other occupancy groups without conforming to all of the requirements of this Chapter or Chapter 8 of the Davis Municipal Code, provided the new or proposed use is not more hazardous, based on life and fire risk, than the existing use.
No change in the character of occupancy of a building shall be made without a Certificate of Occupancy, as required by this Code. The Chief Building Official may issue a Certificate of Occupancy pursuant to the intent of the above exception without certifying that the building complies with all provisions of Chapter 13 Fire Code, and provisions of the California Building Code.
(3) 
Section 905.3.1 is hereby amended to read as follows:
905.3.1 Height. In other than Group R-3 and R-3.1 occupancies, Class I standpipe wet systems shall be installed throughout at each floor where any of the following occur:
1. 
Buildings where the floor level of the highest story is located more than 30 feet (9,144 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
2. 
Buildings that are three (3) or more stories in height.
3. 
Buildings where the floor level of the lowest story is located more than 30 feet (9,144 mm) below the highest level of fire department vehicle access.
4. 
Buildings that are two or more stories below the highest level of fire department vehicle access.
Exceptions:
1. 
In determining the lowest level of fire department vehicle access, it shall not be required to consider either of the following:
1.1 
Recessed loading docks for four vehicles or less.
1.2 
Conditions where topography makes access from the fire department vehicle to the building to be impractical or impossible.
(4) 
Section 907.2.30 is hereby added to read as follows:
907.2.30 Commercial smoke detector limitations. Except where required elsewhere in the Fire Code, installation of smoke detectors for general open space protection in buildings is not required if the building is equipped throughout with a fire sprinkler system.
(5) 
Section 907.6.7 is hereby added to read as follows:
907.6.7 Signs. Where a fire alarm control panel is located behind a door or is not easily visible, an approved sign indicating the location of the fire alarm control panel must be provided. The sign shall read "FACP," "FIRE ALARM ROOM," or other approved wording. The lettering shall be a minimum of 3 inches (76.2 mm) in height and shall be of a contrasting color to the background.
(6) 
Section 913.2.3 is hereby added to read as follows:
913.2.3 Fire pumps powered by electricity. Fire pumps powered by electricity shall be supplied with an approved means of backup power to ensure operation of the fire pump should electrical service to the fire pump be interrupted.
(e) 
CHAPTER 57 - FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS
Section 5704.2.9.6.1 is hereby amended to read as follows:
5704.2.9.6.1 Locations where above-ground tanks are prohibited. Storage of Class I and II liquids in other than "protected above-ground tanks," as defined in NFPA 30, 2024 edition, outside of buildings is prohibited within the entire City limits.
(f) 
CHAPTER 61 - LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES
Section 6104.2 is hereby amended to read as follows:
6104.2 Maximum capacity within established limits. For the protection of City residents, storage of liquefied petroleum gas shall not exceed an aggregate capacity in any one installation of 2,000-gallon (7,570 L) within the entire City limits.
Exception: In particular installations, this capacity limit shall be determined by the fire code official, after consideration of special features such as topographical conditions, nature of occupancy, and proximity to buildings, capacity of proposed containers, degree of fire protection to be provided and capabilities of the local fire department.
(Ord. 2680, 11/18/2025; Ord. 2684, 3/3/2026)
This chapter is enacted pursuant to and in compliance with Health and Safety Code Section 18941.5 and as expressly permitted in Government Code Section 50022.2. For all codes, the effective date of this ordinance codified in this article shall be January 1, 2026.
(Ord. 2680, 11/18/2025)
As required by the Health and Safety Code of the state of California, the city council finds and declares that the foregoing additions, modifications and changes to the regulations adopted pursuant to said Health and Safety Code are reasonably necessary because of local conditions in that they prescribe local fee schedules and make other changes in said code consistent with a comprehensive fire prevention program for the city.
(Ord. 2680, 11/18/2025)
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter is for any reason held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such a decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter. The city council hereby declares that it would have passed this chapter, and each section or subsection, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact any one or more sections, subsections, clauses or phrases be declared invalid.
(Ord. 2680, 11/18/2025)