RODEO-HERCULES FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
MEMORANDUM
Date: October 26, 2022
To: Board of Directors
From: Darren Johnson, Interim Fire Chief
Subject: Adoption of 2022 Fire Code
QUESTION
Shall the Board of Directors adopt by reference the most recent edition of the model California Fire Code as adopted and amended by the State of California (and further amended based on local conditions) for use in the Rodeo-Hercules Fire District, repeal existing sections not applicable to new codes and modify the Rodeo-Hercules Fire District Fire Code to reflect the new model code?
BACKGROUND
1. Every 3 years the State of California updates the California Code of Regulations, Title 24 (CCR-T24), through the State code adoption cycle. The State of California adopts and publishes amendments to national model codes and updates codes specific to California during this cycle. Such model codes with State amendments and California specific codes go into effect in every City and County in the State of California 180 days after publication. The new 2022 CCR-T24 were published in July of 2022. The Health and Safety Code allows local jurisdictions to change or modify the State-adopted model codes based on local geologic, climatic, or topographic conditions.
2. Government Code section 50022.3 identifies the procedure for the adoption process of codes that established the requirement for first reading of the ordinance title and establishment of the public hearing date.
ANALYSIS
In January 2021, the State of California Building Standards Commission adopted many of these codes with amendments and published them as California codes. The new California Code of Regulations, Title 24, was published in July 2022. The codes adopted by the Building Standards Commission go into effect 180 days after publication by the State and must be enforced by each City and County. The State also adopted in January 2021 the following California codes specific to California: California Fire Code.
Local jurisdictions may amend the codes only if determined reasonably necessary because of local topographic, geologic, or climatic conditions.
1. Staff participated in a Fire Prevention Panel, composed of county-wide prevention officers, to create a consensus document to be utilized by cities and fire districts throughout Contra Costa County in an effort to ensure uniformity in requirements.
2. The more significant adaptions include, but are not limited to, the following:
amendments and administrative changes previously established in the Rodeo- Hercules Fire District Fire Code, but that now have revised code section numbers; inserts a clarification of the appeals process so that a Board of Appeals is established to hear and decide appeals of orders and the Board of Appeals shall be comprised of the Board of Directors; amends definitions; general precautions against fires and clarifies the fire sprinkler requirements applicable to substantial additions, remodels, alterations or repairs by incorporating language from the consensus document .
3. Staff has reviewed the new codes adopted by the State of California and prepared the ordinance for adoption of these codes with amendments into the Rodeo-Hercules Fire District Fire Code.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board of Directors (1) introduce an Ordinance adopting by reference the 2022 California Fire Code with local amendments; and (2) set a public hearing date on November 9, 2022 for adoption of the Ordinance.
Attachment:
Ordinance #2022-01